Come What May

We are having a meeting November 1st for all who want to help out with Come What May. We are very heavy into the planning process,and are excited about what God is doing with it.

Unplanned pregnancies are an issue that we need to be prepared to deal with and this will hopefully start us in that direction. We have to be ready with alternative solutions and be ready to help them along that alternate path if this is truly what we believe. The idea is not just to scare them away from terminating the pregnancy but to offer them other options.

Please be in prayer about this and tell your friends!

November 14th 6-9 FREE coffee cart and popcorn! We will have discussion groups after the movie.

SALT

Ok guys, we have changed the application dates of SALT to September and that would be the dates you will be on the Team, is Sept-Aug. If you are interested in joining SALT grab an application from me or print one off the church website.

We need your help! If you are looking for a way to be more involved and have more input to what happens with the youth ministry...this is how you do it!

Contact me if you have any questions

LDYR

Hey guys here is the permission slip I need from you. I will need one of these for every event we do from now on, which i will post for you. This is for insurance purposes. So please make sure you get this printed out and bring it for me. You can find it on the church website on the youth page. Here is the link to it

Renew Youth Ministries

Rest

We had an awesome summer, and I know that God did some work on me. Unfortunately, I don't always allow that work to take place! Let me encourage you as you rest up a bit for school, to rest IN God and allow him to do some work on you. Get out of the way with your plans and your life and allow God to mold your plans and guide you in this little journey we call life! You can also rest assured knowing that you are loved and wanted by the creator of the universe and what can be more powerful than that?


LDYR apps due- this Sunday Aug. 16.

SALT Meeting- August 23- this is different than the bulletin will say, but we need to move it back a week.


All Because of Him,
Aaron

Wow...what an awesome last couple of weeks! At camp, the theme was Reflektor- and we talked about the characteristics of God that He shines on us that we are then to reflect to the world, such as: transformation, redemption/reconciliation, goodness, patience, and freedom. I love the idea that we not only receive these from God but that we are to BE these in the world.

I am excited about what God is doing in each of you and am looking forward to seeing what God is going to do with the direction that was started at FDC/Wildside.

If you want to see some pics instead of me posting them on here and facebook too, since most of you have already re-posted them...they are on Daybreak's website @ www.daybreakcamp.org

Discovery Kingdom

We will be meeting at the building at 8:30am Tuesday morning. We will return around 10:00pm. It is supposed to be a beautiful day so we will stay till it closes at 8:00pm. Make sure you bring money for lunch and dinner there, as well as spending money for whatever else you might want to do throughout the day. If you have any questions email or text me.

Opp Camp

I love being here at Opp Camp and I am truly enjoying being with all these kids! There is truly something beautiful about just loving people unconditionally the way Jesus taught us! We often think this means being nice, but there is much more to it than that. We are taught to set boundaries and yet so many of us don't want to follow our own boundaries we set for ourselves. The reality of this is truly that God set boundaries for us because He loves us and because we love each other we set boundaries and limits on each other and others who claim to live this way. It brings to mind the question though, why do we buck the boundaries so hard? Why can we not accept the boundaries God set for us, let alone the ones our parents or bosses (for some of you now, and all of you later). We try to claim the passage from Matthew 7 as a cover for our unwillingness to stay within the boundaries outlined from God. How can we claim to love God but not respect the boundaries set for us? Just some interesting observations from this week, in watching kids who most likely don't have boundaries at home and seeing them live up to the boundaries set by us here at camp. This doesn't mean they're perfect but it is cool to see them respecting what is firmly upheld.

Service Week- Habitat for Humanity

So on Wednesday of Service week we went to work with Habitat for Humanity. Here are the pics we took. What a great week of service to our community and letting them see Christ working through us!

Dutch Thursdays

So here's what Dutch Thursdays means...Sarah and I are going to go to a restaurant that is chosen beforehand and communicated to you, and we will wait there and eat with whoever shows up! The reason its dutch is cause you need to bring money for your meal, but we can meet and hang out for a bit while we eat and just enjoy the fellowship...

So this thursday, June 4th we are going to be at Fuddruckers at 5:30pm.

See ya there!


Aaron

Service Week

Your money is due by TOMORROW June 3rd! This is your RSVP please get this in to me by the end of Huh?!!

Hurt

So I was doing some research today and found some really cool resources for several types of struggles that we are all subject to. I know not all of us struggle with these things but I wanted to offer you some resources on these issues, because I know that it may be hard to admit openly to anyone about these struggles, and you might have a friend who is struggling and maybe these sites can provide you some help for them. So here are some resources and I want you to know that if you ever need to talk, my door is open and you can email me: aaron_dpcoc@sbcglobal.net or call me at anytime (209) 380-3806.



Sexual Addiction/Pornography:
www.internetsafety.com/index.php

www.pureonline.com

www.settingcaptivesfree.com

Drugs/Alcohol/Substance Abuse

Setting Captives Free- has courses and resources on many different issues including this one

Whether it is something such as smoking: http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/breath-of-life/

Or any other type of substance abuse (ie. drinking, or drugs): http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/new-wine/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

1-800-CDC-INFO

www.cdc.gov/injury

www.abovetheinfluence.com

Suicide/Depression

National Institute of Mental Health

www.nimh.nih.gov

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program

www.yellowribbon.org

Jacqui Coulter – Church member and Licensed Marriage Family Therapist

209-204-8643

jacquicoulter@sbcglobal.net

Body Image/Eating

http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/lords-table/ (over-eating)

http://old.settingcaptivesfree.com/In_His_Image/ (eating issues, such as: bullemia, anorexia, undereating, body image)


I pray that this will be useful for you and your friends as you walk through life, seeking to reflect Christ!

In Christ Alone,
Aaron

SALT Retreat

So the SALT team is heading off for a planning retreat. Please pray for us as we seek God's guidance for the youth ministry, and see where He is leading us. We will be back Saturday night, so we will see the rest of you Sunday morning.

Seniors I need pics from you! We will be doing a slideshow on June 7, so I need your pics (no more than 15) by May 31!

Service Week is coming up, so make sure you sign up with me if you are going to be involved. We have some really awesome things planned and are looking to see where we can gLo in our community!

In Christ Alone,
Aaron

Very interesting in relation to the church... "Momentum requires friction within the body. Anything that reduces friction has the potential to kill momentum." - Catalyst One Day

This just made me think about how the church functions, and I thought I'd share it with you. I wonder, and ask that you respond, by commenting, on what you think about this statement.

I find that it is imperative to have friction, because at least then, you know that you are doing something! I wonder though, if we fear friction, because we are afraid that friction means we are doing something wrong. I am reminded though of what James says, that we are to produce perseverance through trials of many kinds (my paraphrase for this purpose). Too often, we, at least I, think that things are going well when no one is griping, but James seems to tell otherwise. It makes me question the way I do ministry and the way I interact with people. It also makes me question how I am in the world, how the world looks at me...do I live the as though I don't need the church, as though there is no friction in my life? Do I live so that friction is present in my own life, or do I try to live so that there is less friction? I am afraid that I too often try to do things so similarly to the world, that I won't look different, whether that is my hobbies or how I speak, or what I listen to or watch on TV, what I am obsessed with, etc...! So I would love to have your thoughts and inputs. (This is not by the way, a way for me to ask for compliments...but rather a way to get you to consider and think about how we do church)

All Because of Him,
Aaron

Thought for the day

Can I challenge you to spend five minutes praying?

The prayers I am about to post are from website: www.sacredspace.ie it is a website that has a series of prayers everday. It guides you through the prayer process and encourages you to be in the WORD. So if you will allow me to give you these prayers today. Take just 5 minutes and read them, meditate on them for a bit and you're done! After each prayer is a small space so that you know that is the end of that short prayer. Take a moment and reflect on each prayer and then continue.

I remind myself that I am in your presence O Lord.
I will take refuge in your loving heart.
You are my strength in times of weakness.
You are my comforter in times of sorrow.

Many countries are at this moment suffering the agonies of war.
I bow my head in thanksgiving for any freedom I enjoy.
I pray for all prisoners and captives.

How am I really feeling? Lighthearted? Heavy-hearted? I may be very much at peace, happy to be here. Equally, I may be frustrated, worried or angry. I acknowledge how I really am.
It is the real me that the Lord loves.

John 15:1-8

Jesus said, 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.'

Help me, Lord, to notice how you are speaking to me.

What is stirring in me as I pray? Am I consoled, troubled, left cold? I imagine Jesus himself standing or sitting at my side, and share my feelings with him.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.

I have made this my homepage at times and it reminded me to start whatever I do giving some time to God...try it out, check out the site, don't just take my word for it.

Pepperdine Lectures

So I'm down here at the Pepperdine Lectures, having a great time! We have learned a lot! One of the things that we have been reminded of is the fact that everything doesn't matter unless its about Jesus! Its not Jesus AND or Jesus plus anything...IT MUST BE Jesus alone!

I am excited that God is working and beating me over the head! I just pray that each of you can have such an experience, and soon. I miss you guys and will see you Sunday.

TNT

TNT- was a blast tonight. It was so awesome to see several generations interacting intentionally with each other! You are so blessed to have a church family that loves and cares about you and wants to be involved in your lives! I hope you see the value in what we did tonight! God is truly amazing and is working so vividly. I pray that you were blessed by playing the games tonight and enjoyed the fellowship with the "adopted" grandmas and grandpas!

Seriously Ridiculous

Ok guys, sorry I haven't updated in a week or so, I was doing some research and wanted to get my information right. So that post is still in the making.

Here's the news. We are deep in the process of planning service week. Our theme this year is Seriously Ridiculous! The reason behind that is, that everything Christ calls us to will seem ridiculous without a faith in Christ.

So here's what I need from you...some seriously ridiculous ways to serve our community and let the love of Christ be known.

I have contacted the women's shelter, and we have some really cool work that needs to be done there, and I am really excited about that. We have a few members who need some work done and so we will be taking care of them as well.

We will be doing the free car wash again, and passing out free bottles of water and the people of the park book. But I need more than this, and since this is as much if not more YOUR ministry than mine, I need your help.

So I leave you with this, a reading from Philippians 4.

^"4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

This is a busy couple of weeks for me. I am in the process of moving and we just had a garage sale...got a ton of stuff sold, but still have much work to do.

Here's what I have found: In the busiest times, when you take the least time to be with God, is when Satan will attack you! I am excited about the classes I have coming up, they are fun to study for and they will be fun to teach. I know that there is much going on in your lives right now, but I challenge you to take time everyday for God.

I am challenging any and all (in the youth ministry, but anyone else who wants to venture into this challenge is welcome) to be in the word... The SALT team has already received this challenge, but now I open it to you...

Memorize Matthew chapters 5-7 and you will get a good prize...trust me....and don't ask me what the prize is, cause i don't know yet and won't decide til I have the person who takes me up on this challenge accomplish it.

PS. If you get this done before the SALT team does, it will be big shame on them...cause they've had it for 2 months already.



My next challenge comes this Sunday, I want you to pick a grandma or grandpa in the congregation (this would of course be adopted) and sit with them for 2 weeks...at least...see what kind of response you get and see what you learn from them! Sarah and I are sitting with Iva and Lorene...so we're not asking you to do what we're not willing to.


In Christ Alone,
Aaron

gLo

The service project at Kirk Lindsey's house is cancelled tomorrow due to his hospitalization. We will try to help him out after he gets back at some point, so stay primed.

I am around this week, so let's hang out! Give me a call, email, facebook, myspace, or whatever...

In Christ Alone,
Aaron

gLo!

What an awesome day today! We went and helped Deanna Collins with some stuff around the house, like yard work and getting some primer on the bare eaves! It was so cool to see her with a smile on her face, and to see the encouragement we provided in her eyes! It is so amazing when we allow God to work through our hands and feet to help those in and out of our (church) family!

I pray that each one, who was there today, felt the blessings that we were pouring out on the Collins'! I love watching you work together and being able to work beside you! It is always fun and a blessing to see you willing to take time out of your schedule to serve others! Thank you for encouraging me and lifting me up!

I am forever learning from you (the youth ministry) about life and serving cheerfully, and it is always a teaching moment when we work together. Thanks for all your hard work today!

In Christ Alone,
Aaron

Service Opportunities

gLo- Saturday April 11, let's meet at the building at 10:00am (I know its spring break, that's why its not 9) and go over and take care of the Collin's yard! I am not sure if we will be able to work on the fence or not, but let's help them out there.

Then on Monday April 13, let's go help Kirk Lindsay, with the stuff he needs help with! He has lots of stuff, so lots of people would be great! Afterwards, maybe we'll hang out and watch a movie or some games or something fun...any ideas, email me...

Let's use this spring break to glorify God, and have some fun while we're at it! If you want to hang out or go get some coffee or whatever, give me a call on my cell, I will be here!

Love you guys!
Serve Christ and Him alone!

Aaron

A devotional thought

So I was reading a commentary last night for a paper I am writing and came across this quote and thought I would share it with you...

Every man is saved for works but no man was ever saved by works. -William Barclay

I find this interesting as we venture off into what seeks to be a busy next few months, that we remember that we are saved to be God's hands and feet in this world and that our responsibility as a people saved by Christ. It just served as a reminder to me that we need to make sure that we are serving others for the sake of Christ...

gLo

We have a gLo- service project tomorrow, Sat. March 28, 2009, 9-12:30, where we will be serving at a school in town, helping clean and work in the yard, and just doing whatever they need. What an awesome opportunity to spread the love of Christ to the world around us! Join us at the building at 9 and we'll be back just after 12!

Let's get to shining!

Hey guys, just wanted to get this started and let you know that I am going to be updating this regularly with daily thoughts and such. I will keep this updated with current events, and things you need to know. Let me know if you want to help. You can email me or just give me a call.

gLo service project- March 28th: Be at the building at 9:00am and we'll be done just after 12:00pm. We are going to be working at a school so be here on time!

SALT meeting- Sunday night 6-8pm and bring $4 for dinner! We have a lot to talk about!