Genesis 22 - 27

Today in class we covered the following stories:

• How an Angel's Voice Saved a Boy's Life
• Story of a Journey After a Wife
• How Jacob Stole His Brother's Blessing

See if you do as well on this test as Ezra T., who will be taking his gift card to Borders!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

The Case for a Creator - Part 3

PHYSICS

This week's video clip (from The Case for a Creator) covered how the science of physics points to a creator.

The basic premise of the whole clip was that a whole lot of things had to go exactly right for life to exist on earth!

For example, if gravity was just a tiny bit stronger, no organism larger than a pea could survive.  It would be squashed!

If the universe expanded any faster than it is, things would not stay together!

If the earth spun faster, we would be thrown off!

Our distance from the sun and composition of our atmosphere are exactly right for us to neither freeze nor burn to a crisp!

If we did not have a moon, and one that was exactly where it is, and the size it is, the earth would not be tilted the way it is, which would screw up the seasons and tides!

Elements like liquid water, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. - in the precise amounts that we have them - are kind of a big deal for life on earth!

So what is the point?  The point is pretty simple.  If the earth, and the whole universe for that matter, is so finely tuned for our existence...   doesn't it make sense that there must be a "fine tuner"?

Strobel closed with an interesting observation.  Not only is our habitat uniquely designed for us - but it appears to have been created in such a way for us to discover it.  Our atmosphere is not too thick for us to peer out at the universe.  We can grind lenses that allow us to see things that are very small or very distant.  We can even see inside an atom!  Besides sustaining us, it appears as if the universe was actually designed for us to discover it!  This reminded me of messages throughout the bible that all of creation declares the glory of God!

Genesis 16 - 21

Today in class we covered the following lessons:

• The Angel by the Well
• The Rain of Fire That Fell on a City
• The Boy Who Became an Archer

Test yourself and see if you know these stories as well as Alex L., who I'm sure will be visiting Dunham's very soon!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

The Case for a Creator - Part 2

COSMOLOGY

This week's video clip (from The Case for a Creator) covered "cosmology", which is a fancy word for the study of the universe.

We learned that from the times of the ancients all the way to 1953, people all over the world have believed that the universe is static, or constant.  This means that it is as it has always been - no change.  I suppose this makes sense if you don't know otherwise.  It's easy to understand why they would make gods to represent these planets and stars which they believed had never changed.

In 1953, Einstein proposed the theory of relativity.  One of the ideas of his theory was that the universe was moving.  It was either contracting or expanding, but not staying the same.  Around the same time, a Belgian astronomer named Lemaître developed a theory that the universe was constantly expanding.  Building on this, American astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that objects appear to be moving at a speed proportional to their distance from the earth.

This leads to a couple of interesting observations.  First of all, if things are expanding out from earth, then everything must have started from here!  Think of the universe expanding like rings of ripples expand from where a stone was thrown in a lake.  The center of those rings is where it all started.  Similarly, think of the universe of stars and planets as dots on a balloon.  As you blow the balloon up, the stars stay in the same arrangement - they just get farther out from the center.  What is at the center?  We are!

The second observation is that at some point, the universe must have been smaller and denser.  Our earth is at the center of the balloon in the last example.  The stars keep going farther away, but since we are in the center, they continue to look the same to us.  Imagine if we could watch time in reverse.  Instead of the balloon getting larger, it would get smaller.  Instead of everything going farther away, it would get closer to the center.  At some time, there was a beginning of things.  Everything must have been in one single point.  The cosmologists call this "singularity".  Sounds to me a lot like the creation story in Genesis!

In the video, Strobel also explained something called "Kalam's Cosmological Argument".  It is a concept that goes like this:

1. Whatever begins to exist must have had something that caused it
2. At some point the universe began to exist (singularity)
3. Therefore, the universe had a cause

When you say something "had a cause", isn't that a fancy way to say "it had a creator"?

As Strobel pointed out, the science of Cosmology points directly to a creator!

Genesis 10 - 17

Today in class we covered the following lessons:

• The Tower That Was Never Finished
• The Story of a Long Journey
• How Abram's Choice Brought Blessing
• The Angel by the Well

Think you know these stories? See if you did as well as Daejuan H., who took home a gift card to WalMart!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

The Case for a Creator - Part 1

Today we watched the first part of Lee Strobel's video "The Case for a Creator"
It started a lot of good conversation.  What do YOU think about these questions?

• Is science good or bad?
• What is the role of science?
• Should we trust in science?
• Is belief in God a weakness?
• What are the problems with Stanley Miller's 1953 experiment?
• What are the problems with Darwin's "Tree of Life"?

You guys had some great answers!  There were two topics that came up that I think were a surprise to many of you.

#1 - The Big Bang isn't in itself incompatible with God's creation

Scientists have observed that planets and stars appear to be moving away from us in all directions.  I think this is cool!  This implies that at some point, everything that exists was in one place.  And when it was in that place is when it came to be.  So, when we say "God spoke it into being", is it possible that it was a big deal?  Could it have made some noise and caused some disruption?  I think so!  I think the thing that scientists call "The Big Bang" is simply proof that God made a whole lot of stuff happen in an instant, and it completely changed history.

#2 - God uses evolution

I'm not talking about the evolution you read about in your science textbooks.  I'm not talking about chickens turning into monkeys and fish turning into people.  That is something called macro-evolution.  This is a silly idea for a lot of reasons!  Here are just a few we learned about today:

• In all of the experiments that have been done trying to create life, people used ingredients.  Where did those ingredients come from?!
• In all of the experiments, a scientist is conducting the experiment.  If life started up all by itself, why is the scientist needed?!
• In the fossil record, we see all kinds of creatures that all enter the scene in what they call "The Cambrian Explosion".  They are all the animals we are familiar with now!  Where did they come from? Why don't we see a few animals that gradually turn into lots of other kinds of animals?

So how does God use evolution?  Have you ever watched a dog show?  Have you seen how many breeds there are?!  And they are breeding new ones still today.  They are all related, and all came from the same source, and this happened over time.  Sometimes people breed things, and sometimes it happens naturally.  People combine plants to come up with new fruit trees.  Fish get trapped in a ship's ballast and get transplanted to a new habitat where they learn to survive differently.  All these are called micro-evolution.  Don't confuse this with macro evolution.  God made one pair of humans, and from them we have the many races of people we see today.  Similarly, he probably made one pair of wolves that turned into all the types of dogs we see today.  One pair of birds, one pair of butterflies, etc...  So - God created like he said.  Creatures can change over time to respond to their environment (micro-evolution).  But creatures don't turn into different types of creatures (macro-evolution)!

Evil Eye

This hilarious little kid has learned a funny trick.  This video is dedicated to Sydney who reminded me that I hadn't posted it yet!

Genesis 1 - 9

Today in class we covered the following lessons.  (I found Hurlbut's online, so you can click to read each story if you want!)

• The Story of a Beautiful Garden
• The First Baby in the World, and His Brother
• The Great Ship that Saved Eight People

Think you know these stories?  See if you did as well as Jason P., who took home a gift card to WalMart!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

A New Journey - What's in the Bible?

Today we started reading through the bible.  When I was young, I remember reading Hurlbut's Story of the Bible.  I am now realizing that this is where I got a lot of the basis I have, especially in the Old Testament.  So, we decided to embark on a journey of bible stories - with some added incentive.  Each week we will read and discuss several bible stories and have a brief quiz to see who's paying attention.  You guys have been doing great!  I thought we'd be lucky to have one person ace the test.  Turns out a lot of you are listening!  So here's the plan:

• Each week we will read through a few of the stories
• As I'm reading, feel free to shout out questions.  We've had some great ones already!
• At the end, I'll read a few multiple choice questions
• All people with 100% go into a drawing
• Winner gets a $5 gift card from a selection of stores
• Every 6 weeks, we'll do a review test.  You'll want to be there for that one!  That winner will get a $15 iTunes card!

BTW, if any of you are interested in getting a copy of Hurlbut's Story of the Bible for yourself, we found ours used on Amazon for around $15.

Worry

Today we watched an episode from the "Revolution" series by Doug Fields called "Worry".

From the back of the DVD case:

"The world says to live for today.  Jesus declares we can live forever.  The world insists we look out for ourselves.  Jesus answers with encouragement to love others.  The world stresses a lonely life.  Jesus points to a life full of purpose.

"As we follow Christ, we experience a transformation that changes everything.  Dramatic real-life stories.  Biblical and practical teaching.  That's REVOLUTION.

"Worry starts with a fear of the unknown. You don't know what's going to happen. It's beyond your control. So you're anxious. You're worried. You may even be depressed. What are you going to do? Find out on REVOLUTION.

After the video, we had a talk about worry in general. We talked about things like: Is it ok to be mad at God? What sorts of things does worry make you do? The video gave examples like drinking, overeating, and cutting as inappropriate responses to worry. We discussed better options, as well as how to help a friend who was struggling with worry.

Happy Birthday Bri and Kial!!

Happy birthday guys!
Have a fantastic day!

Home Hurts

Today we watched an episode from the "Revolution 2" series by Doug Fields called "Home Hurts".

No one's life is perfect.  Everyone's home can be difficult at times.  The video started with this question:  "Does the thought of home make you tense?"

The video contained the stories of six kids.  They expressed their struggles with too much responsibility, growing up in broken homes, abuse, divorce, how to honor their unsaved parents and other difficulties more kids deal with today than we'd like to believe.

The three points Doug made in the video were these:

1. Realize life is unfair
2. Resolve not to be a victim
3. Reconstruct a new identity

Certainly, we need God by our side in all of life - especially in difficult times.  But we discussed the support system that God designed for us in each other, and that community (church, youth group, friends, etc.) is where we can experience the love and acceptance God offers, as well as a place to get things off of our chest!

"Does Anybody Hear Her?" - Casting Crowns

This week we closed with another music video.  This one is by Casting Crowns, and it’s a song that fit in with the topic very well.

Don't judge an ogre by his ogre-ness!

Here's another great conversation between Shrek and donkey:

• Why was Shrek grumpy and “blocking” donkey? [because his feelings were hurt]
• Does anyone remember what Shrek said about judging? [“People judge me before they even know me”]
• Has this ever happened to you? / How does it make you feel?
• Are we ever justified to judge people like this?
• Have you ever judged people like this?

Not only does it crush people – it breaks God’s heart too!
We sometimes judge people this way at school and in our regular lives.
Imagine how much more horrible it would feel to be judged at church!
Watch this video that shows people describing their experiences at church

• Can any of you relate to any of these? (explain… examples?)
• Does this give you a different perspective on how new kids to youth group might feel when you don’t say ‘hi’ to them? [like we’re better than they are, they aren’t acceptable, not cool enough, etc.]

This form of judging is probably one of the most common. But this is something no one is entitled to do!

Judge:  To form a negative evaluation of someone based upon our impressions
This form of judging is probably one of the most common. But this is something no one is entitled to do!


(Make sure to read about all of the types of judging before you judge what is ok and what is not!)

God is in charge

People can judge things and actions, but only God can see the heart.
God is the one who ultimately determines where we will spend eternity.

• Why is it important to leave this judging to God?
• How is this different from the 2nd meaning of judge? [motives / omniscience / wisdom]
• Have you ever attempted to judge in this way?

Judge: To sit in judgment on
God alone is able to judge our hearts.

(Make sure to read about all of the types of judging before you judge what is ok and what is not!)

Who's the Boss?

In the Old Testament, God’s people decided they did not want to hear from God or his prophets, so he appointed judges to rule over the land. After a while, they did not like having judges, so God appointed kings. This has continued ever since! Countries keep on choosing different methods of government, thinking that it will save them. In reality, nothing but turning back to God will truly save us. However, as long as we have rulers over us, we are to respect them and pray for them.

Watch to see who represents the government in this clip, and how the people react to him.

• Did Maximus like the Emperor?
• Did he still respect the fact that he was in charge?

Many times, we don’t like what our parents, teachers, governors or presidents do, but they are the ones that God has put in place over us.


Judge:  To govern or rule
God gave our rulers the authority to judge us.

(Make sure to read about all of the types of judging before you judge what is ok and what is not!)

Keep your friends from the dark side

Sometimes we see a friend’s actions or attitudes, and we can immediately recognize that they are inappropriate, sinful, selfish, or hurtful in some other way. We judge their actions as being wrong. The bible speaks about this kind of judging. The bible refers to it as correcting, or admonishing. There are a few things to keep in mind though.

• Who do you think we should correct or admonish in this way?  [friends]
• When the bible speaks of this judging, who do you think it is talking about?  [other Christians]
• What is the motivation?  [to help your friend / not to make you look good]

Watch Simon Cowell do some judging:

Simon often seems harsh, but let's look past that for this morning.  He is critiquing, or judging, performances.  The contestants have put themselves in the position to be judged.  Think about these questions:

• Why were Simon and the others hard on the singer?  [because they wanted her to improve]
• Would this be hard to hear from a stranger?
• Even though it would still be difficult, wouldn’t it be more comfortable if your friends corrected you?

Let's watch another example of a person who has gone astray.  See what happens when his friends try to set him back on track.

• When Padme and Obi-Wan judged Anakin’s actions, what was their purpose? [to get Anakin back on track]
• Were they successful?
• We shouldn’t rise to the point of fighting physically like Obi-Wan did, but we should take our responsibility to help keep our friends on track seriously. We should also this keep in mind when our friends try to tell us things that they see in our lives!

Judge:  To hold a conviction after weighing the evidence
God gives us the responsibility to hold convictions and help our friends.


(Make sure to read about all of the types of judging before you judge what is ok and what is not!)

Take the Pepsi Challenge!

Sunday morning, we took the Pepsi challenge.  Surprisingly, Pepsi won!  Most claimed to prefer Coke, but Pepsi got the votes.

This is a type of judging.  And it is perfectly ok!  We all have preferences. We’ve tried different kinds of pop, different styles of music, and different types of clothes, and figured out what we like. Most of us judged that we like Pepsi better than Coke, and rock better than classical. And that’s ok!

Judge:  To hold an opinion or preference
God gives us the freedom to hold our own opinions.


(Make sure to read about all of the types of judging before you judge what is ok and what is not!)

Today's lesson: JUDGING

Sunday our topic was judging.  We started by voting on the following:

• How many of you think judging is bad?
• How many of you think judging is good?
• How many think that both are possible, depending on the circumstances?

We talked about how we can know, and how to tell the difference.


To help us figure this out, I looked up the word "judge" and found a number of possible meanings. I have narrowed them down to five that I think sum things up nicely.  Each of the definitions follow.  You can click on them to see the example we discussed.

1. Judge: To hold an opinion or preference (link)
   God gives us the freedom to hold our own opinions.
2. Judge: To hold a conviction after weighing the evidence   (link)
   God gives us the responsibility to hold convictions and help our friends
3. Judge: To govern or rule (link)
   God gave our rulers the authority to judge us.
4. Judge: To sit in judgment on (link)
   God alone is able to judge our hearts.
5. Judge: To form a negative evaluation of someone based upon our impressions (link)
   This form of judging is probably one of the most common. But this is something no one is entitled to do!

We closed with a great music video by Casting Crowns.  Watch it here.

Exploding whale. KABOOM!!

This is a fantastic news clip from Florence, Oregon in 1970.

Tomorrow - BE THERE!!!

What is judging?
Is it wrong?
Is it ever ok?
How do we know?
After tomorrow - you will know.
Don't miss it!

Prizes - Need your opinions

Hey guys.

As those of you there last week already know, Nikki walked away with the first gift card.  And she had NO competition!!  Good job Nikki!

If you want to be in the running, you have to comment on a post.

So far, we have $5 gift cards to WalMart and Borders.  These can be used in-store, or online.  We've considered Starbucks, Dunhams and others.  If you have requests, chime in!

BTW, commenting on this post doesn't count!  But if you want to see gift cards you'll like, you need to comment here!

You're Not Alone

Had some great discussion today, guys.  Thanks for coming!
For those of you who didn't come, check out these links for a recap of what we covered:

• Today's pointless video:  Horrible Biking Accident
  
• God is our comfort in times of crisis - Signs
• Abandoned by God? - The Count of Monte Cristo
• Trusting God in difficult times - We Were Soldiers
  
• Worry vs. hope is all in your perspective - LOTR: Return of the King
  
• "Gravity", by Shawn McDonald

I think the best part to take away from today was nothing I said or that the videos showed, but what many of you shared.  Lots of comments about struggles and really tough times that most, if not all of you have been through.  Everything from kidnappings to deaths, trouble at school, problems at home...   Next time you're in a tough spot, remember all the things you heard today.  You're not the first one to go through a tough time!  Remember the hope you said you have now.  Call one of your friends who has been there before.  That's what your friends are for!

Shawn McDonald performs "Gravity" live

Video we found of one of my favorite singer/songwriters these days.
Check out this video of how he deals with the struggles of life, and what he puts his faith in.




LYRICS:

The ways of this world are grabbing a hold
Won't let me go, won't let me fly by
It takes it's toll down on my soul
‘Cause I know what I need in my life
Don't let me lose my sight of You
Don't let me lose my sight

I don't want to fall away from You
Gravity is pulling me on down
I don't want to fall away from You
Gravity is pulling me to the ground

This world keeps making me cry
But I'm going to try, going to try to fly, going to fly high
Don't want to give into the sin, want to stay in You ‘til the end
Don't want to lose my sight of You
Don't want to lose my sight

I want to fly
Into the sky
Turn my back on this old world
Leave it all behind
This place is not my home
It's got nothing for me
Only leaves me emptiness
And tears in my eyes

Worry vs. hope is all in your perspective - LOTR: Return of the King

Here is another clip from LOTR – Return of the King where we watch Gandalf and Pippen’s discussion when Minas Tirith was overtaken by Sauron’s army. Listen for Gandalf’s message of hope.



Gandalf lays out a proper perspective, a peek at what “the afterlife” looks like—an eternal perspective during hopeless times.

• In the movie clip you just saw, Pippen was thinking that it was all over. He thought this was the end. He was pretty down, he was anxious, worried—no hope. What changed his perspective?
• The bible talks about two different choices in attitude:  anxiety or joy.  Which would you want, worry or peace?  Why?
• Does our attitude change our circumstances?
• Does it change our perspective?

Philip. 4:12-13 (NIV) 
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

• What is "the secret" Paul has learned?
• Describe how contentment can change our perspective.
• Explain ways that "I can do everything" has more to do with changes of our attitude than our circumstances
• Paul's story is inspiring, but what does "depending on God" or "doing everything through God" look like for a kid in school in 2010?
• What are some attitude adjustments or steps of faith you can take this week to depend on God rather than focusing on the trials and tough times in our lives?

(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

Trusting God in difficult times - We Were Soldiers

War is another tragedy that has affected a lot of us. Do any of you have family or friends in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other wars? Can you imagine how they feel, or how their families feel, not knowing if they are ok?

It’s easy to praise God when everything around is going good and everything is in its place. However, it’s in the times when things are not going good or the way we hoped that our love for God “doesn’t come easy.” It can often be difficult to find the words and/or desire to praise Him or worship Him during tough times.

The movie We Were Soldiers follows a group of soldiers who were ambushed by the People’s Army of Vietnam at the very first engagement of the Vietnam War, recording their bravery, fighting and death for many. In the selected deleted scene the soldiers are heading to the battle field (where they will be ambushed), while their wives are back home in America at church on the Army base.

• If it’s a family member, how does that feel to know that your relative is in a dangerous part of the world? If they are only a person you know through another friend or acquaintance, how do you think their family feels about them being in a dangerous war zone?

• Have you had a time in your life where things were out of your control and you had no choice but to go through the difficult situation you were in? (Maybe someone died, or your parent’s got divorced, or you had to move to a new place.) What are some words that would express how you felt during that time?

• Catherine was the woman who couldn’t make it through the song. Have you ever had a time in your life when doing simple things was difficult because of some tragedy in your life?

• What happened when Catherine couldn’t continue with the song?

• Have you ever had a time like Catherine when your friends or your church have been there for you to support you in a tough time?

Not only can friends comfort and strengthen us, they can also remind us of the things we already know. They can remind us of the things we discussed earlier – that God is still God, and there is still hope. Things we know, but that are tough to remember when we’re in the middle of a hard time. This is a good reminder for us to be there for our friends too!



(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

Abandoned by God? - The Count of Monte Cristo

We’re going to watch another clip now that shows a man in despair.

In this movie, a man named Edmond Dantes has being wronged by someone he thought was his best friend. He is now serving many years in prison for something he did not do. He sits in his cell for years with no hope. The only thoughts he has are of escape and revenge. One day another prisoner – the priest - popped into Edmond’s cell and told him that he has been a prisoner for 11 years, 5 of which he spent digging the tunnel which led him to Edmond’s cell.

• Have you ever felt abandoned by God? When and how did you handle it?
  
• Does God ever abandon us?
  
• Do we ever abandon God?

Here’s part of a story in the bible about a time that Peter abandoned Jesus:

Luke 22:54-62 - Peter’s Denial (NLT)

So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s residence, and Peter was following far behind. The guards lit a fire in the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, "This man was one of Jesus’ followers!" Peter denied it. "Woman," he said, "I don’t even know the man!" After a while someone else looked at him and said, "You must be one of them!" "No, man, I’m not!" Peter replied. About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of Jesus’ disciples because he is a Galilean, too." But Peter said, "Man, I don’t know what you are talking about." And as soon as he said these words, the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times." And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly.

• When you look back on times you may have been embarrassed by or flat out denied Jesus, are you better or worse than Peter? Then, how do you think Jesus responds to you?
  
• So, even in times of despair, worry and tragedy, we should still hope in God?
  
• Why?

In Signs, they thought the world was ending. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes had been betrayed by friends and was stuck in prison.

Read on to see another example of how people react in other desperate situations.

(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

God is our comfort in times of crisis - Signs

The film follows a small farming family in Bucks County Pennsylvania that wakes up to find 500 foot crop circles in their backyard. Soon crop circles are appearing all over the world along with sightings of extra-terrestrial beings. Eventually the news shows 14 lights in the sky- most likely UFO's. The question arises, "Is this the end of the world?"

The Hess family, having recently lost their mother in an auto accident, is once again faced with fear and who to turn to during these times of tragedy. Ever since the loss of his wife, Graham (Mel Gibson) doubts whether there is a God at all. Regardless, his family continues to look to him for comfort or a glimpse of hope in this dire situation.



In this clip, the Hess Family has obviously been through a lot. Now they fear a possible end to life as they know it. During this time of tragedy and fear, they are desperate for hope. Mel Gibson’s character, Graham, tells it the way he sees it. He gives two options: an option of hope—that God might be here for us during tough times, and an option of despair—we’re alone in our tragedy.


As you watched this clip, it might have caused you to question which of these groups you float toward. When tragedy strikes, do you have any hope? Or do you feel alone? It’s something to think about.

• Is it possible that things happen for a reason?

When bad things happen, we can bring it on ourselves. But sometimes we are hurt by the actions of others that we have no control over. And sometimes, they happen for no reason we can see! Regardless what reason these things happen, does that mean that God is not God?

• Is God still God, even in the bad times?
  
• Why do we despair?
  
• Does despair serve a purpose or is it always bad?

Continue to the next post to explore despair a little further.

(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

Horrible Biking Accident

Don't try this at home!
Actually, as Jason suggested, probably better not to try this anywhere!

Tomorrow morning - Be there

Because if you aren't there, that means you are somewhere else - and that's no good!

Tomorrow we'll be talking about what to do when times are tough. It could be a relationship struggle, a family tragedy, or anything that makes us worry. What do you do with that? What can get us through? Is there hope? Come tomorrow to find out!

Friendships Are Not For the Faint Hearted - LOTR, Return of the King

Below is a movie clip that reveals some traits of good friends. Watch the interaction between Frodo and Sam in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.  Also watch for the devotion that the other characters have to Frodo, as well as to each other.  What friendship qualities do you see?  And also keep an eye on Aragorn for important character traits in best friends. 



This scene shows committed friendships in a number of ways.  Sam who has been a loyal partner to Frodo throughout the entire journey to Mount Doom.  The "fellowship of the ring" is the group of representatives of Middle Earth that accompany Frodo and defend him as he carries the ring.  Not only are they loyal to Frodo, but they become close friends and end up caring for each other as well.

It wasn’t easy to be a loyal friend to Frodo.  Everywhere he went he faced enemies who wanted to destroy him.  And if you were standing anywhere close to Frodo, you would be a target for the enemy as well!  And yet, these people were loyal.

• How was Sam faithful to Frodo?  How did he show his friendship?
  
• For those of you that know the plot of the Lord of the Rings, what did Aragorn mean when he declares "For Frodo!" as they charge into enemy lines?
  
• What did you notice about the discussion between Legolas and Gimli?
  
• Tell us about a time when a friend has shown commitment to you.
  
• In the movie we could see that being a friend to Frodo came with a cost.  It might not be as dramatic as going into battle, but maybe for some of us friendships come with costs.  When has it cost you to be a friend to someone?

There is a great demonstration of friendship in the Bible between two young men, David and Jonathan who have a relationship very similar to Frodo and Sam.

One description of their friendship is found in I Samuel 18:1; 3-4.

“Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.  Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.  Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.”

Jonathan and David had a radical friendship that required a great deal of work and commitment from both young men.  In fact, Jonathan’s dad was the King and was jealous of David.  He eventually wanted David killed. 

• What does verse 3 mean: “the soul of Jonathan was knit to David”?  (Look at a knitted sweater or scarf.  Notice how tightly the threads are connected together and how the shirt or sweater stays together because it is knitted.  Each stitch depends on the next to stay together--otherwise the sweater comes apart.)
• Why was it such a huge deal for Jonathan to take his robe, sword, bow and belt and give them to David?
• When have you given up something for a friend?
• What are some of the differences you can see between friendships that include God and friendships that don’t?

God calls Christians to be the kind of friends that will be loyal, even when it costs.  We saw Sam who cared enough about his friend that he would suffer through lack of food, water, and sleep.  We understand that there is only so much we can do as friends – we might not carry their burdens for them as Sam couldn’t carry the ring for Frodo, but we can ‘carry them’ as Sam did.  Jesus said that there is no greater love than this; a man who will lay down his life for a friend. The movie clip showed friends who were willing to take friendship that far.






Some examples of these principles from the bible:


Stand with your friend!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Two are better than one because they have good return for their labor.  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.”

• Have you ever had a time when a friend helped you to "get back up" in some way?
  
• Have you ever had a time when you wished you had!

Sit with your friend!  

Job 2:11-13
“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came together and made an appointment to come to sympathize with him and comfort him.  When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept.  And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky.  Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.”

• How do you think it made Job feel that his friends were willing to come and just be with him - and not even feel the need to say anything?
  
• Has there ever been a time when you would have appreciated a friend like that?

Sharpen your friend!

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Knives get dull with use.  Eventually they are just pieces of metal that are no good for anything.  Before ceramics were discovered, the best way that people had to sharpen a knife or a sword, was to use an metal file.  So iron could be sharpened by iron.

• What are ways we can "sharpen" each other?

Friendships Are Not For the Faint Hearted
It is so tough sometimes to be the friend God expects us to be.  As we saw in the movie clip there may be great sacrifices associated with the friendship.  Being a godly friend is not for the fainthearted – it is however for the fearless.  This week, think of the kind of friends you want, and see if that is who you are hanging out with.  Also, think about whether you are the acting like the kind of friend that you would like to have.



(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

Forgiveness is key to friendship - Shrek

Shrek is an entertaining movie loaded with great conversations between Shrek the ogre and Donkey, the pushy but loyal friend. This scene takes place after Donkey and Shrek have attempted to rescue Fiona the Princess. Shrek is disappointed and angry and Donkey is ticked off too. Watch this conflict unfold.



In this scene we see resentment and harsh words. There has obviously been a conflict brewing and these two friends are at a crucial point. Will the relationship divide, like the swamp, or will they unite, through honest conversation and forgiveness? Donkey wants to hold Shrek accountable for his behavior; Shrek always pushes people away and doesn’t accept love or friendship. But Shrek just feels mad because he’s lost Fiona, and Donkey is on his case. We all have had or will have moments like this in our relationships. Conflict will either be something we work through or it will be something that breaks us up and ends relationships. Let's think about conflict that you have been a part of with friends or teachers or family members, maybe even others in this room.

Some of the specifics we discussed:

• Share a time when you and a friend fought, and finally one of you had to say you were sorry.
  
  
• How do you feel when you know there is conflict between you and someone else?
  
  
• Being forgiven feels good, so why do you think we take so long to ask for forgiveness?
  
  
• What are some good "friend qualities"?
  
  
• Which of these friend qualities do you possess?  Are there other qualities that make you a good friend?

One reason it’s important to have high-quality “true” friends is to have someone who will stand up for what’s right and to help you to do the same.


Consider the following passage:

Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NLT) If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble!

• When do we as Christians need to “reach out and help” our friends?

And how about this:

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

• Why might it be important to come to church regularly?
  
  
• What insight can Christian friends offer that unbelievers may not have?
  
  
• Think of a time when that’s exactly what happened – maybe a friend encouraged you, challenged your thinking, warned or confronted you about a questionable choice you made, or helped talk you out of doing something stupid. Or perhaps, you have been the encouraging friend.  Briefly share your experience.

Remember what Shrek says when he realizes how badly he has treated donkey:
"That's what friends do. They forgive each other."

(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

Friends help us through hard times - Walk The Line

,This is the story of Johnny Cash, a famous singer loved by many.  But Johnny had a dark side.  He struggled with depression and drug addiction and was not a faithful family man.  He got caught up in his fame and became totally dependant on drugs and alcohol to numb his emotional pains.  In this scene you will see him waking up from a long sleep.  His friend June Carter and her family have taken Johnny away from his fast paced life and forced him to “de-tox.”  They got rid of all of his drugs and alcohol and they want to see him turn his life around.  Listen to their conversation.



One of the events that happened in the early part of Johnny Cash’s life was the death of his older brother Jack in a saw-mill accident.  In the clip we saw that he carried guilt about that tragedy. The movie implies that his drug use was his method of escaping guilty feelings. His friend and singing partner stood by him though.  She was a loyal friend who acted like good news.

Here are a few of the questions we discussed after watching the clip:

• In the clip Johnny said, “You’re an angel.”  What do you think he meant?
  
  
• Why did June say, “No I’m not.”
  
  
• Share about friend who has seen you (or is currently seeing you) through a bad time in life.
  
  
• Does this reveal anything about their character, like we discussed last week?

(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

David Crowder Band Rockumentary #3

Are you smarter than Miss USA?

This actual footage of the Miss USA 2007 competition shows why you should all stay in school!!

Today's Lesson: Friendship

Last week we talked about character - What traits define it, and why it is important.
Not only do we appreciate good character in others, but we should have strong character as well.
These are the basics for a solid friendship.

Like we talked about last week, people can have what they call "friends" online, but that doesn't always mean much.  Most of us have friends at school that we would never dream of trusting with our money or our belongings.   If we don't trust them with our things, then why should we trust them with our secrets?  What should we look for in a friend?  What should we change about ourselves so that we will be good friends to others?  Why is this important?

These questions and others are answered and illustrated in the movie clips we have selected for today.  If you weren't with us, or if you want to watch them again, here they are!

Walk the Line
Shrek
Lord of the Rings:  Return of the King

Tomorrow morning - Friendship

Hey guys!  Hope you're planning on coming tomorrow.

Building from our discussion on character last week, our topic this week is friendship.  What makes a good friend?  Are you a good friend?  Why?  Think about this so you can bring us all your insights.

I hope to see you there!  We'll be watching some more movie clips and discussing what they illustrate.

Will you be coming?  If so, leave me a comment on this post.

Tell Us What's Going on!

Have you won a spelling bee? Get a track medal? Been in the paper? If you have, or you know someone else in the group has, let us all know!

Send me an email (jscottsmith3d@gmail.com) or message me on Facebook with the details.

How To Comment

Hey there. I've installed DISQUS, which is a comment moderation system. Sounds pretty technical, huh? The main reason for this is to make commenting easier.

To leave a comment, look for something that says "View Comments" or "X reactions and X comments" under each post. Click on it.

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These are just to make things easier. If you don't have any of those accounts, no problem. Just type in your name and email address and you can make a login specifically for the blog. (Don't worry - your email address will not be public!)

Feel free to use this post to try it out.

Have a good one!

Twitter Will Kill You!!

atch the David Crowder Band display the perils of texting and tweeting.

Today's Lesson: Character

Are you on Facebook? If you're not, and you're not familiar, it's basically just a web site where people connect with their friends to chat, play games and share links. You can decide who is allowed to see your stuff online by making them a "friend". This doesn't necessarily mean that they are your friend in real life, but that's a whole other topic!

If you're on Facebook, think about which of your friends has the highest friend count. Are those people necessarily good friends just because they have lots of FB friends? What does that even mean?

If someone has a lot of "friends" on FB...
...does that mean you would necessarily want your parents to meet them?
...does that mean you would lend them money?
...would you trust them with your iPod overnight?
...would you tell them a secret no one else knows?

Why or why not?

What makes a good friend? Does number of Facebook friends, or real-life friends determine how good a friend someone is?

How do you pick your friends? Do you just wait for a friend request and then click 'accept', or do you have some sort of standards? What are they? Looks? Money? Popularity? Something else? (We had some great answers in class, but I'd love to hear some more here!)

After you've figured out your requirements to accept a person as a friend, think about this: Would you qualify? Why should people pick you as a friend?

We had a lot of comments about all of these questions, and they all ended up making a great definition for character. Watch these video clips for some good illustrations of the importance of character:

The Patriot

Ocean's Eleven

Batman Begins

It's what you do that defines you - Batman Begins

This is a clip from the movie "Batman Begins". If you haven't seen this movie, it's the story of how Bruce Wayne came to become Batman. This scene begins with Bruce Wayne and his lady friends exiting a large hotel restaurant after making a huge scene and swimming in the decorative indoor pond. Bruce is rich and arrogant, or so it seems, and he writes a check for the price of the hotel in order to not get kicked out of the hotel’s restaurant. On his way out he runs into Rachel, his childhood friend who has some interesting things to say about his actions. Let’s take a look at this scene.





In this scene it was obvious that Bruce was embarrassed by his actions when he saw his good friend Rachel. He tried to explain himself, but it was too late. There would be no sweet talking out of this one. His actions had been noted.

Here are a few of the questions we discussed after watching the clip:

• In the scene we just saw, it was obvious that Bruce was embarrassed by his actions when he saw his good friend Rachel. Have you ever seen someone doing something they shouldn’t have been doing and get caught in the act? What did they do?
  
  
• Share a time you were doing something you shouldn’t have been doing and got caught in the act. How did you react?
  
  
• Why do we try to explain ourselves in these situations?
  
  
• But do our outward actions speak loudly as to who we are inside? Why?
  
  
• How do our actions define us even more than our words?

James 2:14-17 (NLT)

What's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.

• What is it that proves our faith?
  
  
• How do actions prove what someone believes? If someone says “I’m trustworthy,” but lies repeatedly, they aren’t trustworthy. If someone says “I’m reliable,” but doesn’t show up when they said they would, they aren’t reliable.
  
  
• “Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all.” Likewise, good deeds are important because they show who we really are!
  
  
• Think of an “action” in your life that is wrong and might be embarrassing for all to see. Do these actions match our words? What can we do to make this right? Should we make this right?
  
  
• In the movie clip, Bruce’s friend Rachel said that “it’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do that defines you.” How do you think others look at you by your actions—in other words, how do your actions define you? How do people see you? Do people see Christ in you?

What are you going to do this week to start making your actions match your words?

(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

Who are you when no one else is looking? - Ocean's Eleven

The movie Ocean’s Eleven is about a group of eleven thieves masterminded by Danny Ocean (George Clooney). The movie focuses on their attempt to rob a highly guarded casino (The Bellagio) vault with over $160,000,000 inside it on a fight night in Las Vegas. In this scene, they are about to shut the power off . . . notice how people react when the lights go out.





Dwight L. Moody defines our character as “WHO WE ARE IN THE DARK.” Some of us live very different lives when certain people are watching. We might look very good on the surface, but under the surface we have something to hide. It’s these areas of our life that we are holding onto that come out when we think no one is looking, and we discover the true desire of our heart.

• If you could be invisible for one day and you had the ability to go anywhere, what would you do? Think about your answers... are they good ideas or bad?
  
  
• What is an example you have observed when you’ve seen people act one way around certain people, and different around others or when they're alone? (don’t use names)
  
  
• Why do you think people sometimes act one way in public but another way when they are in private?
  
  
• If you know a person acts one way in private and a completely different way in public, does that person’s actions have any influence on what you think of them? What kind of impact does that knowledge have on your trust level of them?
  
  
• Have you ever done something in private, when no one was looking, that you later regretted doing? How did you handle it? How did that work out for you?

Romans 13:12-14 (NLT)

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

• Darkness is often the cover that provides the outlet for our sinful desires because we think no one is looking. What does Paul say in the passage about our sinful desires and evil deeds?
  
  
• Whenever we get rid of something it leaves a hole that needs to be filled in. With what does Paul say to replace the evil deeds we have shed?
  
  
• Paul says to clothe ourselves with the “armor of right living” and to “Let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires.” How can we do that? How can we avoid thinking of ways to do the sinful things we desire to do?

What are you going to do this week to shed one sinful thing that you tend to keep being tempted by?

(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

Will you stand up for what you say you believe? - The Patriot

Have you ever had a friend say that they would do something but ended up not doing it? Have you ever heard someone say that they were friends with someone but later on they were mean to them or talked badly about them behind their backs? Aren’t you tired of people like that, who talk one way but act another?

First we’re going to watch a scene from a movie called The Patriot. The movie is about the Revolutionary War in the 1700s. In the movie, the British army is attacking the American armies, trying to keep them under the rule of England. If the Americans can win the war, they’ll have their freedom. In the scene we’re going to watch today, a guy named Gabriel Martin (Heath Ledger)walks into a church and interrupts a church service to recruit men for the militia (which is basically a small group of guys who aren’t soldiers but want to fight anyway). At first, the reverend and some of the men in the congregation object. But after one of the town’s own residents, a girl named Anne, speaks up about words and actions, several men including the reverend stand up to join the fight against the British army. The scene is a very powerful illustration of leadership and inspiration, as well as a beautiful picture of being called to action when until now there has only been boasting. Listen to what happens when the people in the scene are asked to put their actions to their words and join the militia.

• Without telling us the person’s name, can you tell us about someone that you’ve heard/observed recently, who said they’d do one thing, but then they did something else?
  
  
• How does it make you feel when someone does this? Why?
  
  
• Why do you think that it is important for your actions to match your words?

James 1:22-25 (NLT)

And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

• What’s the big difference between reading the Bible and doing what it says?
  
  
• What are some basic things that the Bible teaches us to do, but we as believers in Him… don’t actually do?
  
  
• Why do you think it’s sometimes so hard to actually follow through with our commitments to obey God?

Matthew 7:17-20 (NLT)
A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced.

• What is Jesus talking about when He says you can tell what kind of tree it is by what kind of fruit it has?
  
  
• If we are people who say that we follow Jesus or that we worship God, then what kind of “fruit” should there be in our lives? Think about actual actions.
  
  
• How does it make you feel, knowing that people should be able to look at the way that you act and be able to determine who you worship?
  
  
• If someone were to look at this last week, and they looked at how you treated people, how you acted when you were alone, what kind of music you listened to and movies you watched, the conversations you had with people, what kind of tree would they say you are?

What needs to change in your life—if anything—so that people will be able to tell who you really are?

(Thanks to "The Source for Youth Ministry" for this topic!)

Charlie Bit Me!!

Here's the video we watched of Charlie biting his brother Harry's finger. If you have little brothers, watch out! Better yet - don't stick your finger in there!

Danny MacAskill street bike tricks

This is the video I played at the end today of the incredible stunts by Danny MacAskill.
(I can do all this stuff, but I have snow tires on my bike right now.)



Description from YouTube:

"Filmed over the period of a few months in and around Edinburgh by Dave Sowerby, this video of Inspired Bicycles team rider Danny MacAskill (more info at www.dannymacaskill.com) features probably the best collection of street/street trials riding ever seen. There's some huge riding, but also some of the most technically difficult and imaginative lines you will ever see. Without a doubt, this video pushes the envelope of what is perceived as possible on a trials bike."

Darth Vader after the Dentist

On the video, they call it "Chad after the dentist", but we all know it's the real Darth Vader.

This was a video made in response to "David After the Dentist"

David After the Dentist

Here is the video I played today of David after his dentist appointment: