A Day!

Yesterday was amazing. Summer is so great. My job is awesome. I get to hang with students and church members at the same time do fun stuff.

8:30-11:30 Office work

11:30-2:00 Mar Far Golf. We had a fun time playing disc golf at Westmoreland and Lok Yaun was good once again.

2:00-3:00 Talked with a student about Bible College and other stuff.

3:00-4:45 Office work.

4:45-5:45 Three games of basketball.

5:45-6:10 Jog home to change clothes.

6:10 - 7:10 Bike ride across town and out Willamette Street to the city limit sign and then back to Laurelwood Disc Golf Course.

7:10-9:00 Disc Golf with Aric and Ken Charpie.

9:00-9:30 Ride home via bike path and River Road.

9:30-10:30 Hang out with my wife and describe our days. She was in Drain all day with the boys.

Hike to Diamond Creek Falls & Salt Creek Falls

July car wash 2005

SC3 This Week...

SC3 Leadership Meeting. 4:30-5:15 PM Monday.

Testimony Tuesdays – 10:00-12:00 @ Testimonies for drinks, games, and sharing.

Mar Far Golf – Thursday 11:30 @ Bi-Mart (18th&Chambers). $3

SC3 STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER 7.25.05

• CIY is next week. Please pray for an excellent week for our group!
• Tug of War Music Fest – August 6 – in Albany, OR --- SEE: http://www.hideoutministries.org/events/hideoutevents.htm
• Redemption Rocks FREE concert – August 6 – Alton Baker Park --- 12:30-4:00PM

Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Parting Shot
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The Newboys are giving away an electric guitar (an Epiphone G-310 SG to be exact, a $415 retail value!) You can also download FREE chord charts and devotions to the songs Devotion and Presence. You can even view an exclusive WorshipTogether.com at the "webisodes"—a teaching video on how to play the songs!
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Download the FREE chord charts and devotions:
http://www.youthspecialties.com/free/newsboys
=================================
1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Here's a brief reflection on the song "Meant to Live" by Switchfoot

"We were meant to live for so much more.

Have we lost ourselves?

Somewhere we live inside."

I once heard a preacher say, "We need to learn to live from the inside out." I think he was right.

Look at the words of Jesus:

"'Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this he meant the Spirit, whom those believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified" (John 7:38-39).
Notice that life comes from the inside out, not from the outside in. So many of us have this mixed up. We try to get stuff, relationships, fame, or power to feed life into us, but none of those things can do that. The only source of life is found in God.

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).

You can find life only in Jesus Christ, in a living relationship with him, through the Holy Spirit. You can draw life from him every day. His Spirit dwelling inside of you can bring life even in the most deadly of situations.

In the song "Meant to Live," Switchfoot sings about finding the life we were meant to live. You can only find that in the plan God has for your life. And that plan is right there, in your heart. As you fellowship with the Lord in his Word and in prayer, his Spirit will reveal that plan to your heart. Then you will know the life you were meant to live.
(Suzy C.)

Daily Reflections from Solid Sounds, copyright 2005 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. (Solid Sounds). Used by permission. To receive daily Reflections by e-mail or to read on-line, visit: http://www.solidsounds.org

2. SURF REPORT
~ Theophilus
Theophilus is a comic strip character whose Christian walk has been illustrated for years. Check it out for yourself. http://www.theophilus.org

~ Reptile Valley
Everything you ever wanted to know about caring for lizards, snakes and geckos--all at one handy dandy site.
http://www.geocities.com/willeebob13/reptilevalley.html

3. FORGETTABLE FACT
Moses, Aristotle, Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin all stuttered.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES
There is no more blessed way of living, than the life of faith upon a covenant-keeping God--to know that we have no care, for he cares for us; that we need have no fear, except to fear him; that we need have no troubles, because we have cast our burdens upon the Lord, and are conscious that he will sustain us.
- C.H. Spurgeon

The law of God and also the way to life is written in our hearts; it lies in no man's supposing, nor in any historical opinion, but in a good will and well doing.
- Jacob Bohme

Is life worth living? That depends on the liver.
- Unknown

5. PARTING SHOT
I WANT to have lots of patience; I just don't want to NEED it!

copyright 2005 :: Youth Specialties

Youth @ SC3

Youth @ SC3

SC3 Leadership Meeting. 4:30-5:15 PM Monday.

Testimony Tuesdays – 10:00-12:00 @ Testimonies for drinks, games, and sharing.

Mar Far Golf – Thursday 11:30 @ Bi-Mart (18th&Chambers). $3

Car Wash – Friday 3 PM Les Schwab. Come early to make signs. Call Jon to pick up a pledge form to get pledges per vehicle this week. Make more money that way.

VBS next week. We are still looking for more responsible young people to be team leaders.

TdF 2005 2

Lance's team had an amazing finish today in the Team Time Trial to put him in the leaders yellow jersey. Wow!

TdF 2005

The Tour de France has begun. Lance Armstrong (6 time winner from Texas-he is the only rider in 100+ years of the TdF to win 6 times) is in good position in second place. He had hoped to win the opening time trial but was a few seconds behind at the finish line due to slipping out of his pedals at the start. Most of the rest of the ~190 riders are at least one minute back. One minute is a lot at this stage of the race.

The best place to get race updates is: velonews.com/tour2005/

I believe what Jesus believed

I believe what Jesus believed - FROM: www.answersingenesis.org

13 June 2005

In 2005 Philip Bell, a British biologist and staff member of Answers in Genesis, one of the world’s largest creation apologetics ministries, visited Hungary. Mr. Bell gave a series of lectures on creation / evolution, which is a heavily debated topic among many. On Saturday afternoon Philip gave an interview to the readers of Bible and Congregation, a Christian magazine published by the Hungarian Bible Union in Hungary. The magazine was represented by Istvan Weber, a sociologist.

Istvan Weber [IW]: You give convincing lectures on the importance of Creation. Why is it important to you?

Philip Bell [PB]: It really goes back to my days in university. I was brought up in a Christian home to believe the Bible from the very first verse and I defended that literal creation view all the way through high school until I was sixteen or seventeen. I had, really, the faith of my parents—I was loyal to them. But when I studied more advanced biology at the age of seventeen I was influenced by a Biology teacher who was a Christian and a lovely person, a great teacher of Biology. She gave me a love for the subject and taught me the evolution view. The evidence she provided at that time seemed quite plausible to me. And so, without really thinking through the implications for my Christian faith, I decided that yes, God must have used evolution. I swallowed the idea that the Bible tells us why God created and science fills in the details of how He did it. But then I got to University as a committed believer in evolution and I fully expected to find more evidence for the theory. But, I was not a sceptic but rather a true believer in God.

Two things happened at university. First of all my faith became a living faith as I really understood the doctrine of grace; I was sure of my salvation for probably the first time in my life. That was tremendous as my faith was now coming alive. At the same time I was looking at what I was learning in Zoology and Botany and I realised they were asking me to believe certain things without supporting evidence. For instance, I remember well, I was taught that insects without wings evolved into insects with wings. Fine, I thought: Let’s see the evidence. I was not shown a single fossil of a creature with partly-formed wings that was on the way to becoming an insect with wings. And I realised, Wow, this is really ‘believed by faith’! And then I was told that land mammals evolved into creatures like whales and dolphins which went back into the ocean. Again I expected to be shown some information, some fossil material to support this idea. I was not shown a single example. And with such a lack of evidence I seriously began to question the biological data and the whole theory that was built around it. At the same time, because of what was happening in my Christian life, I decided I had to sit down and very carefully go through Genesis, really reading what the Bible was communicating about Creation. And though I had read it many times before, I realised then that it is written as history—that came to me very forcibly. And I also began to see that my approach to Genesis affected the way I approached the rest of Scripture. What was written as real history, I had re-interpreted because of outside opinions from science. Why didn’t I do that with the Virgin Birth, with the Resurrection, with Jesus’ miracles, walking on the water, turning water into wine and so on? Science would say you cannot have these things happening but Christians believe them by faith. In the same way I reasoned that I ought to—if I was consistent—accept the miracles of Creation and the Flood by faith. At the same time I had the scientific data to wrestle with. I had a choice to make.

So the second thing that happened to me is that I decided to reject evolution, partly because of the lack of scientific evidence but also because I saw that it was in direct conflict with the Bible’s teaching about Creation. And I found a tremendous release in my Christian faith from that point on. I have changed my mind on some of the details since then, but I rejected evolution as an explanation for origins and a little bit later I rejected the millions of years that went with it. And it made a great difference to my Christian faith.

[For his answers on such questions as:
- A lot of Christians have compromised and believe that the authority of the Bible is in contradiction with the results of scientific research. How do you approach this question?
- Why is Creation important for today’s Christianity?
- How can we use the Creation account to address the post-modern man?
GO TO: http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2005/0613hungarian_interview.asp]

Why My 12-year-old Can See Rated 'R' ... but Not PG!

by Jonathan McKee

Yes ... it's true. My son Alec and I recently watched the 'R' rated The Last Samarai together. But I won't let him watch the PG-rated Sixteen Candles.

Sixteen Candles?

Sure, many of us "Gen X'rs might have fond memories of this film. But think about it: nudity, sexual dialogue ... is this really what you want your kid watching? And more importantly ... is PG really the line you want to use when discerning what to watch?

So how do we know what films are appropriate to show to our families? What about our church youth group? Or what's appropriate for a married couple watching a film together?

WHAT LINE DO YOU USE?
First, let me warn you that I love movies. Any of my close friends know that if they go see a movie with me I usually give the run-down on who directed it, the director's past films, and the history of all the actors. I studied film in college and I have even dinked around filming a few shorts.

But it's difficult being a movie-lover in today's world. Films that the critics rave about like Sideways, Closer, Sin City, Cold Mountain and Eyes Wide Shut are so often filled with graphic sex scenes and other superfluous garbage. Some people argue that it's okay to watch these films as "art." I won't judge these people, but I have trouble agreeing. Most people would concur that there is a line somewhere in the expanse between Michelangelo's "David" and pornography. But where is that line drawn? And more importantly, what standard do we use to draw that line?

Some people are upset about the violence in film. But can we "rubber stamp" a film as violent? Can you put films like Saving Private Ryan, Glory or even The Passion in the same category as Sin City or Pulp Fiction? Again ... a line exists somewhere.

Others like to use the MPAA rating system as a guide for what we can watch. Pardon my candor ... but that's just stupid. I already mentioned Sixteen Candles. Are we to let our kids see PG films like this, but not the R-rated Saving Private Ryan? I'm surprised how often Christians make the 'R' rating, a secular rating system based on secular morals, their line.

And what about TV? I'd rather my 12 year old son watch the R-rated Gladiator than any 5 minutes of TV's Friends. And that is Captain Kangaroo compared to the average programming on MTV. I watch MTV twice a year (when the kids are asleep) just to keep up with youth culture ... and it never ceases to shock me. The Parents Television Council released a study, "MTV Smut Peddlers: Targeting Kids with Sex, Drugs and Alcohol," which examined the programming content of 171 hours of MTV "Spring Break" coverage between March 20-27, 2004. Overall, there were 1,548 sexual scenes (3,056 sex depictions or nudity and 2,881 verbal sexual references) and 1,518 unedited (3,127 bleeped) profanities. Letting our kids watch MTV is pimping them out to some of the lowest filth the world has to offer.

So how do we draw the line when discerning what to watch?

DRAWING THE LINE
Let's look to the scriptures for our guidelines. Ephesians 5 is a good passage to consider.

Ephes. 5:1-9 (NLT)
Follow God's example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. [2] Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to him.
[3] Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. [4] Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. [5] You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world. [6] Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible anger of God comes upon all those who disobey him. [7] Don't participate in the things these people do. [8] For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! [9] For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

If that scripture doesn't make you think ... I don't know what does. I admit, it's hard to excuse watching Best Picture Nominee Pulp Fiction when you consider that verse.

But what about the films that aren't so extreme. The "date flick" Hitch with Will Smith, for example. Even though this film is fairly clean ... it does follow the lives of unbelievers with secular morals. And even though the character Hitch seems like a good, moral guy ... there are comments he makes in the film that lead us to believe that he has no moral objection to sleeping with a girl before marriage. So does this make Hitch a no-no? Do we also need to go back and tear up our Shakespeare and our Hemingway collections?

Let's look for the answer from some of the truths from the above passage.

1. Verse 1 and 2 say that, as believers, we are to follow Christ's example of love and purity. Jesus not only forgave our sins, he set an example to follow. We can definitely learn from his example of love—we see many examples of this in the scriptures.
   
   But we don't see much about what "influences" Jesus allowed in his life. That's okay—because the next verses talk about what to avoid.
2. In verse 3 and 4 Paul actually lists things we are to have no part of:
• sexual immorality
• impurity
• greed
• obscene stories
• foolish talk
• coarse jokes

Paul tells us that there should be none of these things in our lives. These aren't the only things we need to avoid ... these are just examples. We see Paul list examples in many of his books. These lists vary a little, depending on who he's writing to. But certain topics seem to be a common denominator of discussion. For example: there should be no sexual immorality among us.

Some people may try to argue that we just shouldn't "be" sexually immoral, but it's okay to talk about it or watch it. I have to disagree. In I Corinthians 6:18, Paul tells us to "flee" sexual immorality. Notice that he doesn't say "try your best to avoid ..." He says "RUN AWAY!" That's because he knows how powerful a desire sex is.

I've never seen one stumbling block so devastating to families, so destructive to leaders, one that blackens the reputations of churches and ministries like no other ... as sexual immorality. I've personally known numerous pastors whose ministries fell apart because of their own sexual sin. Addictions to pornography, affairs, sexual misconduct ... you name it. Sex is a powerful thing, one not to be messed with.

Even King David, "a man after God's own heart," wasn't immune to the lure of sexual immorality. He saw a beautiful woman bathing ... which led to David lusting, wanting ... and eventually murdering. His first peek at Bathsheba bathing opened the door to a destructive momentum of sin in his life.

And "just thinking or talking about sexual immorality" ignores what Jesus said about the subject in His sermon on the mount. It is not just "doing it" that makes us guilty—thinking about it is just as bad. Lusting with our eyes is equally wrong. Jesus even went as far as to say that it would be better to pluck our eye out if it caused us to sin.

Maybe some of us need to pluck out our cable or Satellite connections?

In my movie reviews I will often comment about a film's sexual content. That's because many of us need to be aware of sexual content in advance and not set ourselves up for failure. Part of successful "fleeing" is becoming aware of what films to avoid before you sit down to watch them. Web sites like my movie review page, and www.screenit.com can help us be aware of the content of films so we can "flee" sexual immorality.

But Paul lists more than just sexual sin. In this particular list he also includes impurity, greed, obscene stories, foolish talk, and course joking. That pretty well covers Meet the Fockers, Something About Mary, and other films that might not have sex or nudity ... but definitely rate high in sexual and perverse joking.

THINKING TWICE ABOUT WATCHING JUNK
The above passage isn't the only one that advises us how to respond to the stuff that the world has to offer. I Peter 2:11 tells us to "watch out" for evil desires. Not only because they battle against our very souls ... but also because we're being watched by our unbelieving neighbors. We might be the only glimpse of Christ that they see.

This doesn't mean we should be pious or condemning to unbelievers for their movie choices. The Bible doesn't say that. But this passage should make us think twice about watching junk.

As a youth minister, kids have asked me numerous times if I have seen American Pie, Sin City, or films of the like. I'm glad I can tell them I haven't seen those two. But my batting average hasn't always been so good. And it's just not very convincing to respond, "Yes, and I hated every moment of that filth!" Maybe we should consider missing this kind of junk in the first place.

Let's revisit the film Hitch. Personally, I wouldn't show this to my own kids because it deals with the secular dating world. Frankly, my kids just wouldn't understand it. And some of the comments made in the film hint at sexual promiscuity.

But I had no problem seeing it with my wife. There was no sex, nudity or coarse joking. And it didn't preach or glorify the inappropriate. It was a fun date flick for a married couple. ( Click here for my detailed review)

GOD'S LIST
God doesn't print out an annual list for us of acceptable and unacceptable movies. He's given us his Word and He's equipped us with discernment. And when it comes to that discernment, the scriptures are pretty clear about not flirting with disaster. We need to be careful of what we see and listen to. Not only for our own sake—but for the sake of others.

You have the information ... now it's your choice.

Jonathan McKee is president of TheSourceForYouthMinistry.com and author of the new book "Do They Run When They See You Coming? Reaching Out to Unchurched Teenagers."
(CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK) Jonathan speaks and trains across the country and provides free online resources, training, & ideas for youth workers at www.TheSource4YM.com

CHRISTIANS NO DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD

[The following article was sent to me by Carl Detels. This stat is shocking.-Cory]

"By Pastor Chuck Baldwin

June 2, 2005

NewsWithViews.com

Recently, pollster George Barna released his research regarding the beliefs and conduct of today's Christians. The results are shocking! According to Barna, only 9% of America's born again Christians have a Biblical worldview. Only 9%!

To determine a Biblical worldview, Barna used the following 8 point criteria:

• Believing that absolute moral truths exist.
• Such truths are defined by the Bible.
• Jesus Christ lived a sinless life.
• God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator and still rules today.
• Salvation is a gift of God and cannot be earned.
• Christians have a responsibility to share their faith in Christ.
• Satan is real.
• The Bible is accurate in all its teachings.

As any real Christian can see, these 8 points comprise basic Biblical truth. To think that more than 90% of born again Christians would deny any one of these fundamental truths suggests that the vast majority of professing Christians today have no clue as to what being a Christian really means.

As a result, the obvious question that must be asked is, "What in the world are our pastors and church leaders teaching their congregations?" It would appear that whatever they are teaching, it isn't the Bible!

Barna's research gets even more disturbing. His survey reveals that only 3% of Christian parents include the salvation of their children in the list of critical parental emphasis. What?? Does this mean that 97% of America's Christian parents really don't think it "critical" that their own children go to heaven?

At the same time, 39% of America's Christian parents believe it is "critical" that their children get a good education. Compare these sentiments with those of President Theodore Roosevelt who said, "A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education."

Barna's research also revealed that only 36% of America's Christian parents monitor or regulate the time and quality of T.V., music, and other media that their children were allowed to access. In addition, 45% of America's Christian parents teach their children that there are NO moral absolutes. 43% teach their children that there are SOME moral absolutes.

George Barna summarized his findings by saying, "Faith makes very little difference in their [Christians] lives: believers do not train their children to think or act differently [from the world]. It's no wonder that they [Christian children] grow up to be just as involved in gambling, excessive drinking, and any other unbiblical behavior as everyone else."

The problem with America's Christianity today is that, for the most part, it doesn't exist! What passes for Christianity is instead an anemic, spineless, diluted substitute without convictions or principle.

No wonder so many unbelievers see nothing in the church that would draw them to a life-transforming faith in Christ. No wonder so many political leaders ignore the church. No wonder that despite some 300,000 evangelical churches, scores and hundreds of television and radio ministries, and millions of professing Christians, our nation is still on a collision course with calamity!

What America needs is real Christianity! The kind of Christianity that changed the course of history. The kind of Christianity that changed the face of Europe. The kind of Christianity that propelled the Pilgrims, Puritans, and Patriots to shake off the bands of tyranny and establish this great country called America.

Christianity of old quenched the flames of oppression, lit the fires of freedom, and led two continents out of the darkness of paganism. Today's Christianity is known for bingo games, softball leagues, and milquetoast preachers. Christianity of old toppled the Roman Empire. Today's Christianity cannot even rid the nation of legal abortion.

George Barna's research suggests that the real mission field may not be in heathen lands across the seas but in America's churches right here at home!

© 2005 Chuck Baldwin - All Rights Reserved

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Chuck Baldwin is Founder-Pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. In 1985 the church was recognized by President Ronald Reagan for its unusual growth and influence."

TV

After seeing the newest Carl's Jr comerical I am done with TV for awhile.

Plus, it is too nice outside to be in watching mindless babble.

Added to all that The Amazing Race and The Contender are done so ... I don't need TV.

My Political Profile - take the test

This test is short and limited in accuracy, I am probably more conservative than it suggests. HaHa.

Your Political Profile

Overall: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Ethics: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

TODAY -- Star Wars Episodes I & II

5:30 PM --- Episodes I & II will be shown at the SC3 Youth Room.

Shown in surround sound!!!

FREE.

Bring snacks of some sort to share! Everyone welcome.

175 Santa Clara Ave.

Money Talks, Marathons and Kaufman on Boundless

That which follows is a copy of an e-mail newsletter I receive. The articles are very good (you have to go to their website to read them). Older students (High School/ College) will surely enjoy the thought provoking topics.

Check it out...and sign up for the newsletter, if you apprecitate this edition.

In some issues articles have a slight Calvinistic slant. Calvinists have a slightly different view of God and the Scriptures than we do (contact me for more info on that).

-Cory
_____________________

Dear Readers:

Here's what's new on Boundless.

FEELING THE PINCH OF A DOUBLE INCOME by Heather D. Koerner
Some say less is more. A new book says where money is concerned, more can be less.

http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001084.cfm

A RACE LIKE NO OTHER by Suzanne Hadley
Marathons are a growing craze on one college campus. But
it’s not what you think.

http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001082.cfm

HARVARD LAW by Matt Kaufman
Why might Harvard’s president lose his job? Because he
forgot you can’t say some things on campus — like “men and women are different.”

http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001083.cfm

Good Reading,
Candice

Candice Watters
Editor
www.boundless.org

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This update is a service of Boundless webzine, sent to subscribers. If you would like to be removed from the list, please send an email to listserv@listserv.family.org with the text "UNSUBSCRIBE BWLIST" as the body of the message.
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PureChoice'05

PureChoice'05-May 17th-7PM @ Gill Coliseum

"Morality Matters

In an age where everything seems relative are there actual standards? Do the decisions we make actually matter? Is there such things as right and wrong and if so do they really matter?

These are all good questions. But they are more than just "good questions" - these are important questions. PureChoice'05 is an opportunity to get answers for questions you have been asking.

When is it then? PureChoice'05 will be taking place Tuesday, May 17th at 7:00 pm. It will be held at Gill Coliseum on the Oregon State University campus."

http://www.purechoice.org/

If you would like to go as a group sign up at the Welcome Center by Sunday night. -Cory

Zane's Bad Dreams

This morning at 5:15 AM Zane got up and came to our room mumbling about some bad dream he had. I told him, "go back to bed - everything will be alright."

However, he just went back to the door of his room and kept mumbling about the dream. I never did get what he was talking about, but I got up and helped him back to bed. As I tucked him in He laid down with his head to the wall and quietly said, "will you pray for me."

"You betcha, I'll pray for you!" I prayed a prayer of blessing and protection over him.

That was a very cool daddy moment. My 3 year old asked me to pray for him!

We pray together at many meal times and often as I put him to bed. But I wondered what was going through his mind. "Does he understand what prayer is for?"

Now I know he understands more than I realized and more than many adults do about prayer. Like me, many are too proud to ask others to pray for them.

Uchenna & Joyce WIN!

Lori and I kinda got into The Amazing RACE this last month.

Uchenna and Joyce were definitely our favorites. And they come from behind, more than once, to win, yeah!

How much of it is staged? I don't know. They definitely play the video clips that provide the most drama. But through it all Uchenna and Joyce had the most integrity, so they were our favorites to win.

Plus, they had a noble cause for the money once they won. They are infertile and were hoping to win to use the money for infertillity treatments and/or adoption.

I taped the two-hour episode and this morning's talk show with them on it to use at our Middle School Camp (The Amazing Race).

Die

Our culture doesn’t deal with dying very well. I mean we are getting more and more familiar with violent deaths because of the popular media, but dealing with actual death of those around us or even ourselves is something that eludes most of us.

We should be ok with dying. We should look forward to dying. But life is so complicated, so cluttered, so crowded…with selfishness, with me.

In my Scripture reading this morning I read in Paul’s letter to the Romans about death and life. You see that in order to live we must die.

In chapter 6 Paul mentions death in 16 or more different ways. Christ’s death, our spiritual death, our death to sin, and even our eternal death if we don’t choose life in Christ.

He is teaching about spiritual death. In dying we get new life. We get real life. We are freed from slavery. We must die to ourselves and to sin, which is bound to our own selfishness. When we choose sin over Christ we are choosing to be bound or chained to sin. The chain gets tighter and tighter as we choose sin more often than Christ.

Sadly, right now I see young people I know who are choosing sin over Christ. They are miserable as slaves, but they don’t see the chains that bind them. They are missing out on the joy of true life, but poorly choose chains over freedom.

It is a decision we all must make…the free gift of God in Christ Jesus…or slaves to self and sin and eternal death.

Once we make the decision to die to sin we are to continually turn to Him, to become slaves of righteousness. Sin may still be attractive at times when we are weak. Be strong in your new life in Jesus. You are freed from sin, you live with Him, you are alive to God in Christ Jesus, use your bodies for righteousness to God.

Right now our church’s baptistery is decorated like a tomb. It is so cool to have that visual, because it is a reflection of this chapter of the Bible.

“…all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death. Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6.3-4

Don’t Toss That Phone

Americans replaced 100 million cell phones last year, but only about 5% were recycled. Which puts a lot of them in the trash – and that’s bad for the environment. Cell phones contain compounds that can contaminate water and the soil. The problem is projected to increase as new features make it attractive to replace phones more often. Fortunately, six toxic substances – including lead and mercury – may be banned in most electronic devices by July 1, 2006. Until then, many retailers offer recycling plans. Check before you toss your old cell phone. (Parade, May 1, 2005)

*Our Youth Ministry recycles cell phones. Simply bring them to the church welcome center or office.

Supersize Me

I finally watched Supersize Me. Amazing.

The 100% McDs diet. He gained 25 lbs in 30 days. He got very sick. The doctors told him to stop because he was killing himself.

I have been studying nutrition recently to prepare for a Parenting Seminar that I am teaching. The things we eat are so unhealthy. Sugars, saturated fats, and especially Trans Fats (anything with "partially hydrogenated oils").

But they taste so good. Why do we eat? For enjoyment or for nutrition?

To eliminate Trans Fats from my diet I am having to avoid Fast Food resturants. Because they all cook with it. The meals served at fast food joints also have too many calories.

In addition to what I have been reading on nutrition I found out I have high of cholesteral. I don't eat much red meat or other high in saturated fat foods. So I am focusing on ridding my diet of Trans Fats to see if that will help.

Cooking and eating at home is so much more healthy. Not prepackaged foods, but eating simple foods: rice, chicken, whole wheat bread, tortillas, carrots, apples, bananas, etc.

You gotta read the ingredients lists. My rules are avoid foods that have sugars listed first or second in the list and everything that has "partially hydrogendated oils."

MySpace

My MySpace has been updated.

If you want to check it out go to:

www.myspace.com/cdgant

Camp Koinonia service project Spring 2000

Funniest music video ever!

Gary Brolsma, 19, of Saddle Brook, N.J., has become a cyber-celebrity. Brolsma's "numa numa dance" is based on a line from the Romanian pop song he lip synchs to in the video. Millions of people have already watched it.

Check it out: www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/numa.php

Hilliarious Web News

I just came across a hilliarious Christian News site.

Check it out at: http://larknews.com

Easter Day

Easter Day

It was asked recently how the day is chosen each year. It is different every year and can be in March some years and in April others.

Easter Day is the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox.

The vernal equinox is the first day of spring (March 21). There are some other details but simple rules usually these hold true.

April 16-2006

April 8-2007

March 23-2008

April 12-2009

April 4-2010

Middle School Pizza, Put, and Pool - Dad and son.

Middle School Pizza, Put, and Pool - DDR

Middle School Pizza, Put, and Pool.

Katie playing in the water hazard.

Zane is a goalie???

Zane is amazingly brilliant. I don’t know how he knows so much. He is so observant, it is amazing.

He is three years old.

When I was dressing him for bed tonight I helped him put his Mexican soccer jersey on for pajamas. After getting dressed he pretended to have a ball and wanted to throw it to me. However, I told him, “you have to put it down and kick it because in soccer you can’t throw it you have to kick it.” I thought I was teaching him something about the sport.

But he comes back with, “Yes, I can because I’m in the goalie box.”

I’m like, “what?” I am thinking to myself, “how does he know that?” How does he know anything about goalie boxes. I have not yet taken him to a soccer game. He has not watched a game on TV, we don’t have cable. He doesn’t go to school, and he only has a few friends who are girls who come over on Wednesdays. Sunday school?

I went out to the kitchen to tell Lori about it. She didn’t believe me. So we quizzed Zane about it and he confirmed he knows something about goalie boxes.

How?

Amazing!!!

Turn It Up!

Jam session at the Gants'

Jam session at the Gants'

RAIN

It finally has started to rain again.

They say, “We need the rain.”

I have thought and said, “I don’t see why I need any rain.”

I understand that the farmers need the rain. Other than them…? They also say that the forests will be in danger of fires. But they say that every year. Plus, there were so few fires last year… they have a few to make up.

I have loved the blue skies we have had during 2005. We don’t normally see blue above until April or May. We’ve had it almost continually this year. It has been nice.

However, riding home on my bike in the rain tonight had a familiar feel to it. It felt good … almost refreshing. No it was. It felt like … home. It was like meeting an old friend.

I know I’m weird. But those of you who have grown up in Western Oregon might understand.

Youth Group was a doosy tonight (Middle Schoolers, ugh!!!) ... it was nice to have something else to think about.

music preferences quiz

Ska 67% Country 67% Indie 67% Indie Rock 67% Emo & More 54% Classic Rock. 54% Punk and Pop Punk. 46% Industrial 33% Britpop 29% Hardcore 17% Mainstream 17% Hip Hop and Rap 8% Music Recommendation created with QuizFarm.com

Saturday Night!

Saturday Night!
6:30-10:00 PM
Crossing Guards
music
And
Games
And
Food
And
Movie
(Bring $2 & soda)

SC3 STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER 3.7.05

Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Parting Shot
===========our|sponsor===========
CALLING FOR TRUE GOD STORIES
Has God made himself evident in your life? Do you have an experience or story you want to share?

TRUE Volume 2 is the follow-up book to TRUE Volume 1: Real Stories about God Showing up in the lives of teens, a book which covered issues such as sexual temptation, teen pregnancy, pornography, and other challenges. Teens shared how their prayers were answered, how they overcame illness and addictions, and how they sensed God's presence and direction in their life.

We're seeking stories for TRUE Volume 2. If you or someone you know has a powerful God experience to share, please send it to true@lifewriters.com

Check out True Volume 1
http://www.youthspecialties.com/product/252687
See the TRUE homepage for more info on the book and how to write for it.
http://www.lifewriters.com/true.homepage.html
=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART
You gotta know when to fold ’em.
Kenny Rogers sang it first. But that’s also the attitude of many counselors and researchers when it comes to the recent upswing in teenage gambling. It seems that in response to the televised popularity of high-stakes and celebrity poker, more and more young people are taking up the game. Some have set up in-home poker parlors. Others play at every opportunity at school. And the Internet makes it easy to gamble unnoticed, without being hassled by parents.

But then, many parents don’t mind their kids’ participation in poker. Some are happy to know their children are in a safe and supervised environment. Others take pride in seeing their otherwise geeky kids defeat the school’s best athletes and more popular students. Some defend poker as a means of honing math skills and decision-making. And when it’s only a $10 buy-in to participate, poker night is a cheaper evening than dinner out and a movie.

However, as you might expect, not all participants have the self-control to limit their involvement to $10. A recent survey suggests that eight percent of teenage gamblers show signs of having a gambling problem. The numbers will almost certainly grow higher as more people get involved. In response, many schools are cracking down.
As Christians, we have another consideration when it comes to gambling. We may tend to see accumulated cash, possessions and time as ours, when in fact they all belong to God. In his grace and love, God entrusts many blessings to us, which we are to oversee as stewards (managers of someone else’s property, finances or other affairs).
Many of Jesus’ parables focused on the importance of good stewardship. In one, a homeowner entrusts three servants with cash while he goes on an extended trip. Two of them worked hard to double what he gave them, which pleased the master. The third, however, buried his cash and didn’t put it to good use, which made the master irate. So it’s hard to imagine what the homeowner would have done if the servant had told him, “I’m sorry, but I lost everything you gave me in a big game of Texas Hold ’Em.”
Gambling may be a simple diversion for some people. But for others, it is a road to ruin. We’ve been taught to look for warning signs of alcohol or drug abuse, but out-of-control gambling can be just as dangerous. Warning signs include gambling longer than planned, until all money is gone or to get money for financial obligations. Additional signs are remorse, depression or losing sleep following gambling losses. Even one such sign can indicate a serious problem.

Promoters always showcase the big winners. What we don’t see are the broken homes, ruined relationships, and personal desperation of thousands of others who gamble and lose. If you’re ever tempted to score big by gambling, never forget that the odds are ALWAYS stacked against you. You can bet on it.

On your own ...

Read the parable about the master and his three servants in Matthew 25:14-30.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Matthew+25%3A14-30

On a scale of 1 (lousy) to 10 (excellent), how would you rate your stewardship of the gifts and possessions God has given you? How might gambling affect that score?

2. SURF REPORT
~ National Council on Problem Gambling
If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, please get help. If you have nowhere else to go, start with this site.

http://www.ncpgambling.org

~ Disposable Income Calculator
How much disposable income do you have? If you’re serious about being a good steward of God’s money, you need to know about that kind of stuff. This is the place to find out.
http://www.disposableincome.net

3. FORGETTABLE FACT
The first VCR, made in 1956, was about the size of a piano.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES
The best throw of the dice is to throw them away.

- English proverb
Horse sense is a good judgment which keeps horses from betting on people.

- W.C. Fields
The better the gambler the worse the man.

- Publilius Syrus

5. PARTING SHOT
We have enough youth. How about a fountain of smart?

FROM: YouthSpecialties

SC3 STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER 3.14.05

SC3 STUDENT E-MAIL NEWSLETTER 3.14.05

Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Parting Shot

===========our|sp..==========

INVESTIGATE THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT POINTS TOWARD A CREATOR GOD
In The Case for a Creator, journalist Lee Strobel investigates the latest scientific discoveries from physics to biology and discovers they point convincingly toward a creator God. Learn what some of today's most respected experts have to say about the birth of the universe, Darwinism and the origin of life, DNA research, and more.

http://www.youthspecialties.com/product/249775

All resources also available in your local Christian bookstore.

=================================

1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

Here's a brief reflection on the song "Be Love" by Plus One:

"Well, if you need love,
Take time and be love,
Breathe it out create love,
See how things can turn."

Do you want to know a sure-fire cure for the blues? Be kind to someone, especially someone who doesn't deserve it. It may sound strange, but it is a biblical principle:

"Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit" (Galatians 6:7-8).

If you are feeling lonely, forgotten or just plain discouraged, take the day that the Lord has given you and invest a few hours of it in helping someone else. When you do this, when you are kind to others, when you intentionally go out of your way to be a blessing to someone else, you are fighting evil.

"Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good" (Romans 12:21).

And when you are aggressively kind, God takes notice:

"Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free" (Ephesians 6:7-8).

So go on an all-out offensive against depression: be good to someone who doesn't deserve it and who can never pay you back for it. By doing that, you will be imitating Jesus, showing grace and mercy to others. And when you are like him, you will "be love."
(Suzy C.)

Daily Reflections from Solid Sounds, copyright 2005 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. (Solid Sounds). Used by permission. To receive daily Reflections by e-mail or to read on-line, visit: http://www.solidsounds.org

2. SURF REPORT

~ Flicker Rocks
What's it like to have your own Christian record label? If you like Christian music, you're going to love this article.
http://www.family.org/teenguys/breakmag/features/a0034670.html

~ The Flying Elvi
They dress like Elvis. They jump out of planes. And they have their own web site. Just thought you'd like to know.
http://www.flyingelvi.com

3. FORGETTABLE FACT

All spiders are cannibals.

4. POTENT QUOTABLES

Be kind to unkind people--they need it the most.
- Unknown

An instant of pure love is more precious to God and the soul, and more profitable to the church, than all other good works together, though it may seem as if nothing were done.
- John of the Cross

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
- Aesop

5. PARTING SHOT

Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

FROM: YouthSpecialties

New Dorms to begin @ BBC

"The Future is NOW at BBC!

You are an essential part of the picture!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We have talked about this for years and now we are ready to begin. . . .



Boise Bible College plans to begin construction of a new residence hall approximately May 2nd 2005! The footings and the foundation walls should be poured in mid-May. We will then need to rough in plumbing for 14 bathrooms prior to pouring the concrete floor. We are looking for 3 or 4 plumbers who will volunteer their labor to help with this project.



This is a huge project; Phase one alone is 21,000-square feet! We realize that we will have to contract some of the work outside, but would like to keep the costs down by using as many volunteers as possible. We have had some materials donated and many hours of volunteer labor already committed. I have come out of retirement myself to live in Boise and be the acting Project Manager for as long as it takes to finish this much needed project.



Before we get a contractor involved, we would like to know who would be interested in volunteering and/or bidding for: Plumbing, Sprinkler System, Heating and Air Conditioning, Electrical, Framing, Roofing, Finish Carpentry, etc. if you or anyone in your church is interested in volunteering or bidding please contact me at BBC by March 29th.



We have much to plan and coordinate as this vision becomes a reality. If you are interested or know of someone we should contact, especially for the early projects of plumbing, we are planning a meeting for the week of March 28th to go over the plans and discuss what is involved. We have some housing available on campus and can accommodate RV’s for extended stays in Boise.



Please call or e-mail me or leave a message with Janet Colburn at BBC at 376-7731 so we can coordinate a meeting date and time.



Thanks for partnering with Boise Bible College to train ministers!



Boise Bible College

Marv Bullock, Project Manager

mmbullock@juno.com

253-564-4053 (home)

253-686-1678 (cell)



Janet Colburn – 208-376-7731"

CHRIS ROCK VS. THE ABORTION CULTURE" by Matt Kaufman

If God can use Balaam's donkey to make a point, He can use anyone. Even Chris Rock. Read about it in "CHRIS ROCK VS. THE ABORTION CULTURE" by Matt Kaufman

http://www.boundless.org/regulars/kaufman/a0001022.html

Mo is fired?

Quote from: The Light Side by Bob Lochner in today's Oregoninan

"[Liz] Robbins concluded: "Cheeks' defining act in Portland showed his class and provided the Blazers with a prideful image. Before a home playoff game in the first round against the Dallas Mavericks in April 2003, Natalie Gilbert, 13, forgot the words while singing the national anthem. Cheeks walked onto the court, whispered the words, then sang with Natalie, encouraging the crowd to join in for a touching moment replayed throughout the country.

"The Blazers' job description for the next coach is not likely to ask for a singing voice.

"Reflecting on his national anthem save, Cheeks said after the moment, 'I wish I could help some of my players like that.' Wednesday, it seemed like a fitting epitaph to his time in Portland."

______

Cory says:
Trailblazers: My favorite b-ball team makes another poor decision. In the last 10 years they seem to me to be making one bad decision after another. The Jail-blazers baffle me.

All the bad personalities (read "criminals") they've hired over the years and sending away the class acts like Mo and Brain Grant a few years ago. What are they thinking?

Bob Lochner in the rest of his article writes that Mo will have plenty of opportunities in the NBA because he is well respected as a coach. The rest of the NBA according to him are shaking their heads at the Blazers. Why don't the Blazers see that?

"I think Maurice was well-liked," Abdur-Rahim(player) said. "I think guys are going to miss him. Even the guys who don't think they'll miss him will look back and miss him. A lot of his problems stemmed from things he couldn't control. He had to try to get guys to buy into roles that he felt he had to make them play."

"He helped me get to where I am today," [Zach] Randolph said. "That's all I'm going to say right now."

MySpace.com

http://profiles.myspace.com/users/7870227

Cory Harding prayer - check out the website too.

Cory Harding spoke at our MS Winter Camp a couple years ago.

A call for your prayers...

On Monday night, Cory got really cold, full body chills and went from a normal temp to 104.9 in 30 minutes. He got sick to his stomach and fully lost control of his left side. We took him to St. Luke's and he was admitted and is still there tonight. After chest x-rays, MRI, and lots more tests, they determined that he has pneumonia. His MRI showed no change from Feb 11, which is a good thing. He has slowly started to regain some of his left side functining as his fever has gone down. He is getting continuous IV fluids and antibiotics. They think he will be there for a few more days.

So, please pray for healing - Cory has had a rough time for the last few months with all the transfusions and now this. He was really looking forward to a break from needles as his counts were up last week, his veins need the rest. Pray that he will regain his strength and his appetite soon, and that he will get well.

For those of you in town, he is in room 480. We'll update you more later.

Thanks for your prayers!
Kate

the benefit website is up and running!
www.themelonball.com

F15 flight video

Check this 3 minute video out:

http://raf.union.rpi.edu/downloads/f18_ride.wmv

It would be so awesome to be able to do that.

Adolescent needs and parenting

WELL SAID:
“Yet the fact remains that every child needs authentic, intimate relationships with adults until he or she has completed much of the adolescent process. This responsibility cannot fall to parents alone or to teachers, who can touch individual students for a year at best. The only way we can stem the tide of the consequences of abandonment is to encourage a wide variety of adults to take part in the lives of the young. Nothing else will make a difference—not more baseball fields, more programs and events, or more job opportunities. Because the root of the issues related to contemporary adolescence has to do with leaving this age group to flounder on its own, the answer is relationships with adults who sincerely care. That is the sole need of this abandoned generation.”
—Dr. Chap Clark in Hurt:Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers (Baker Academic, 2004)

FROM:Copyright 2005 by Understanding Your TeenagerWritten by Wayne Rice. Visit us on the web at http://www.uyt.com

This statement is true and is why I am in Youth Ministry, however more and more I am concerned about today's youth because of the lack of parenting they are getting. Parents are responsible for their children's teaching and training in all areas.

Our upcoming parenting seminar (April 23) will touch on how parents need to be purposeful in helping their children be healthy physcially, mentally, emotionally (socially), and most importantly spiritually.