Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Hats and Panty Hose...

Ok, kind of a weird title for a church youth group blog post, but that sums up the craziness of our Trek night tonight.

Sure we had some over indulgence at the Trek store, but I won't name any names. But we also had some pretty crazy hats that showed up for crazy hat night. Let's see, we had a duct tape hat, a fuzzy green hat, a pair of bunny ears, cowboy hats, a weird hat with a duck on it (maybe the craziest of all), a Santa hat, a statue of liberty crown, a bicycle helmet, etc. Definitely some weird stuff in there. Well, you be the judge, take a look at the picture.
In addition, we (well actually I, *evil laugh*) decided to play a game that involved a head covering. The 8th graders played this game last year and I think it was their favorite game; or NOT! But the 7th graders had not yet played this wonderful game (wonderful if you're a leader and don't have to play). Maybe the word embarassing is a better way to describe it.
While this game may have had it origins elsewhere, my first exposure to it was in Ukraine during the summer of 2005. Basically you pull panty hose over your head and the other end left hanging has some sort of weight in it (not dangerous weight though - we used a pair of socks). The two or three or however many contestants line up against one another and on "GO" they start swinging their heads to get their panty hose moving. The point is to get your hose caught in your opponents hose and then pull his/her hose off his/her head. No hands can be used. It is kind of hard to explain...maybe these pictures will help! Well....I thought it was fun. It is really good when it is really hot outside and the people playing have been sweating and then you put it on over your head and the smell almost knocks you over - NICE!!
By the way, not to be overlooked in our night was Mr. M's council time on assurance. As a believer, I don't have to wonder if I will end up in heaven one day - I CAN KNOW, I CAN BE ASSURED! If I have trusted Christ as my Savior, I am sealed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in me and He is a pledge, deposit, or guarantee that one day I will be spending eternity with God. By the way, that guarantee is way more significant then that gurantee mentioned that the Cubs would win the World Series. I mean come on... :)
And remember our verse in our Compass Point: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." John 10:27-29 (NIV)
WOW!! Those words should give great hope to the believer and should give us assurance and security in our relationship with Christ. Stand on it. It doesn't make complete sense in man's mind, and that is why so many humans (even Christians) struggle with this truth. But God's Word makes it clear, and that is where we must stand - on His Word! I could keep going and start preaching, but I'll stop there. Enough said!

Journey/Trek Quizzing

After all the waiting and practicing, the Journey/Trek Quizzing Competition is upon us this Saturday, March 3. The competition will take place at Elgin Evangelical Free Church in Elgin (makes sense, huh). This is the same location as last year.
Speaking of last year, these pictures are of our groups who quizzed last year. The First Place JV team and the Journey Team. You all look so young; my how you've changed in a year!
Although the actual competition does not start until 9:30 a.m., our quiz teams need to be there to register at 9:00 a.m. So we will be meeting at CBC at 7:50 a.m. and leaving shortly thereafter.
Quizzers should bring their study material with them to study on the drive up and at the church while we wait for the quizzing to begin. Quizzers, please also remember to dress appropriately. Guys should wear slacks, a collared shirt and a tie. Girls should wear either a long dress, a long skirt and blouse, or dress pants and a blouse.
Parents/Spectators are also asked to dress up for this event.
We also may plan to stop for a fast foodish type lunch on the way home depending on what time it is when we start the road trip home.
See ya Saturday!

Crazy Hats and the Store...

A reminder to all of you Trekies that tonight at Trek will be having our Trek Store and Crazy Hat Night. So come prepared.
At the Trek Store you can use Trek bucks (earned by completing verses and units) to buy different types of items including pop, candy, notebooks, pens and SHARPIES!! Only crazed sharpie addicts really care about buying sharpies, but we do have a few of those...Hmmmm!
As far as the hats, feel free to express yourself. I know some of you who are Cubs fans will wear a White Sox hat for crazy hat night and some of you White Sox fans will wear Cubs hats. Whatever floats your boat.

So, just a reminder on those two things. Hope to see you tonight!

Monday, February 26, 2007

White and Dirty...

No I didn't say "White and Nerdy" like the song by Weird Al. I said "white and dirty".

We have had a pretty decent amount of snow this winter. Although most any amount of snow is a decent amount for a boy from the South like me, it seems like we have had even a decent amount of snow for you tried and true Midwesterners.

In the book of Isaiah we read these words:
“Come now, and let us reason together”, says the LORD, “though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, NIV)
As we are reminded of this passage of Scripture, we should have a new thought process when we see the snow undisturbed (like in the picture to the right of my backyard). Of course not all snow is pure white. The disturbed snow from cars and snow plows is very nasty and dirty (as you can also see from the picture on the left). But they didn't have cars and snow plows when the Bible was written (although obviously many things can disturb the snow). But when we read in Scripture that though our sins were as scarlet, they will be as white as snow it is talking about the pure, undisturbed snow. What a beautiful picture we have of what Christ did for us falling right in front of our eyes.
So if you don't already think about this verse when you see the pure, white snow begin thinking about it from now on. God has been faithful to give us a beautiful picture of what He has done with our sin right before our very eyes. And our response...it can only be "Thank You Lord".

Happy Birthday Josh...


A very happy birthday goes out to Josh Winton. He turns 13 years old today. Welcome to the crazy life of a teenager, Josh. Hope you have a great birthday. I am very thankful to the Lord for you!