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!