Tuesday, December 16, 2008

When pranks go wrong...

All you younger students take note of the following account and learn from their mistakes:

1.) Daylight is always your enemy if you are going for stealth

2.) Don't climb on the roof when the one you are wanting to prank is home (That too hinders stealth)

3.) Don't put yourself in a position where you have no escape

4.) The more you mock, the more pain you will feel

Monday, December 15, 2008

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

In light of the white wintery wonderland outside I thought it would be fitting to take a look at some "snow moments" from classic literature. Enjoy! (You can click on the individual cartoon strip to see it enlarged in a new window)






Friday, December 12, 2008

A little Christmas controversy

Recently there has been some controversy within the Cause (light-hearted I might add) over whether or not donkeys, sheep, cows, and even the wise men should be included in today's manger scenes. It all started with a fun-natured Christmas I.Q. test that I came across. One of the questions was phrased as such:

Which animals were present at Jesus' birth?
A. Donkeys, sheep, and goats
B. Donkeys and sheep
C. Sheep and goats
D. Lions, tigers, and bears
E. None of the above

The correct answer is "E" as the Bible does not tell us which animals were present. But, the Bible does not tell us that there weren't any animals present. Granted there is no major theological issue at stake here, but it does make for some fun debate amongst mid-highers. One student went so far as to remove the animals from her family nativity scene and hide them from her dismayed mother. Whether you have animals or not in your nativity scene it makes no matter. One thing I do know, the following manger scenes are probably not a good representation of what might or might not have been at the original Christmas scene:













I'm not sure, but I don't believe Santa was there in Bethlehem, nor was his sleigh pulled by eight tiny frogs.
















Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, round yon fryer, mother and chick...
It just doesn't sound right, does it?
















I really don't know what to say about this one.



















I guess the wise men came from the Northwest and were not wise men, but were actually wee little leprechauns

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

iPods and cell phones and the internet...oh my!

I came across an interesting and insightful entry on Al Mohler's blog yesterday (he is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary). There is a recent study that came out in regards to the amount of media influence upon today's teenagers and the effects that it is having. It doesn't take much awareness to note that our culture today is of the "plugged-in" nature. I'm just as much a part of this culture as I have my iPod, cell phone, Wii, and computer...and I use them every day. The answer to the media issue isn't to do away with all things digital. Rather, we need to be discerning in how we allow ourselves, and our kids, to be influenced by it. I would encourage both parents and students to read Mohler's thoughts and discuss the realities of how our lives are being influenced by the media around us and how we can be wise in our choices in this arena.

You can find Mohler's blog entry here.

You can find the actual study that he comments on here.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ." Philippians 1:9-10

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The impossibility of impossibility

When the angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced that she would give birth to Christ there was more to his message than just a simple explanation about what was going to happen in the months to come. Sure, Gabriel revealed to her that she would give birth to the Son of God, what He would be called, and how great His kingdom would be. But that wasn't all he declared to her. A simple and profound declaration about God's character was slipped in at the very end.

"For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

A virgin giving birth? Yeah, right! Mary had a legitimate reason to be a little confused at first. She was no dummy. She understood the basics of biology. But, in her response to Gabriel's explanation we see in this short episode of her life an indicator as to why she found favor with God.

"May it be done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)

She believed in the impossibility of impossibility.

She was one who clearly understood all that God had promised to Israel in years past, as seen in her offering of praise in Luke 1:46-55. Perhaps the story flashed to her memory of Abraham and Sarah giving birth in their old age, and how upon hearing Sarah's laughter the Lord asked Abraham, "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). Or, perhaps she thought of Jeremiah's prayer, "Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You" (Jeremiah 32:17). Whatever it was that went through her mind it didn't take long for her to simply respond with faith.

That has always been and always will be the mark of finding favor with God. Trusting Him at His Word (no matter how impossible it may seem) and obeying.

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

Monday, December 8, 2008

High School "No-Ball"

This past Saturday the high school group had a "No-Ball" event in lieu of the annual city-wide Snowball dance. We had a terrific lasagna meal at the church, along with an encouraging message from Matt MacCollin, before heading up to the Lloyd Center in Portland to play a little broom ball. Ice is a lot more painful than it looks. Nobody was seriously hurt. Only some minor concussions, bruises, and mild frost bite. The freshmen and staff took on the sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The upperclassmen held the lead at half-time, but the scoring floodgates opened in the second half for the youngsters/oldies. Final score: 24-19...Frosh and staff won! 

Awards to be passed out:

Most aggressive/purplest finger - Dylan Korgan

Best fall - Tyler Howell

Hardest fall - Tyler Howell

First to run head-first into the wall - Tyler Howell

Most blood drawn - Hannah Miller

Least amount of blood drawn - Kendra Chica

Most falls - Kyle Rossi

Biggest facemask/shoulderpads/chest protector/gloves - Dylan Sobey

Oldest on the ice/youngest at heart - Vince Castronovo

Least traction on the soles of his shoes - Ryan Eiler

Most willing to try and run/fall on the slickest part of the ice - Eric Tate

Most times arguing the score with the referee - Zac Bell 

Loudest shrieks of horror - Freshmen girls

Check out the pictures below





















Rake 'n Run

Recently one of the high school home groups spent a Saturday afternoon raking leaves for some random houses. Here are a few of the highlights.






Monday, December 1, 2008

Happy meals and Christmas

After church got over yesterday I drove Josiah to get some fast food before heading home. Normally his choice of grease is chicken tenders from BK. On this occasion, though, he wanted a Happy Meal from McDonalds. "Dad, I want a happy meal so I can be happy." As the words rolled from his tongue I had to let them soak for a minute. Has this culture grabbed a hold of my four-year-old? I didn't scold him, laugh at him, or even refuse the precious toy that is usually the motivation for him even wanting a Happy Meal. But I did use it as a teaching moment. I told him that neither a toy, chicken nuggets, or fries would make him happy for very long. Only Jesus can truly make you happy. Did he fully comprehend the lesson? Did it radically change his perspective on life and the complexities that are found within it? No. He just wanted the toy. But it did remind me of a few things:

1.) Some of the best teaching moments in life are the ones you don't plan or prepare for

2.) In a season where temporary happiness is manufactured and distributed we need to remember that true joy is something we could never make, buy, give, earn, or deserve. It's given as a free gift, received by faith, and came in the form of a little baby in a manger.

We will listen to songs that sing of "the happiest time of the year." We will drink egg nog (okay, maybe not everyone). We will give and get gifts. We will ornament a tree. We will light a house. We will do many things of a festive nature. But will we remember that "although He existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men"? (Philippians 2:6-7) 

And that's only the beginning of the story.

Happiness can't be found in a manger, though. That was only the beginning. A genuine glimpse at the manger requires that we also look at the cross. "Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8)

And that's only the middle of the story.

"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel...For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4, emphasis mine)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

That's Salvation. That's happiness. That's joy. That's good stuff.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing