Guys,

Don’t have a lot to say today (throat still hurts, so I couldn’t say it anyway), but I had this idea for a GREAT youth game! It seems, however, that someone had already come up with it. Check it out:

Looks like fun, yeah? Can’t see your parents giving us permission to play that one though.

Oh well, I’ll think of something.

Ah, the end of the first week of school. New teachers, new schedules, new “friends”…. How was it for you? Leave a comment and let me/us know how it went for you, and maybe share 1 good and 1 bad thing about this next year - share the love!

yay. it's friday.

This morning I had a chance to speak with my daughter Nicole and they (she and her sister) were so excited about school today. As I drove on to the office after hanging up, I said a little prayer for them in hopes that they had a wonderful day - meeting or exceeding all of their expectations.

You see, sometimes that’s all it takes. You say a little prayer, you put someone first in your thoughts and you push them a little closer to God. That is where it all starts. In our task of becoming less “I”-focused and more others-focused we find that not only do we push others toward God, our eyes are opened to the fact that He is close to us as well.

We see more of Him around us. Everywhere.

Tomorrow, when you’re in the lunchline or when you’re sitting in class just before the bell rings, say a prayer for the person standing or sitting next to you. Or across the room. It may take a few moments, but I believe you’ll find yourself seeing more clearly than before. This is intercession - an important part of service.

Try it.

Who have you prayed for today? Post a comment and let us know!

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. - 1Timothy 2:1-3

Today is my beautiful wife’s birthday! I won’t tell you how old she is, that would be rude.. but rest assured that she’s still younger than me. :) I’m including a couple of pictures of her, some of my favorites in celebration of this day. Love you, honey!

Shopping Diva!

I love it when she's in the baking aisle...

You can participate too! Go over to her Facebook site and tell her Happy Birthday yourself! Visit her site (add her as a friend if she’s not already!)

Came across this in my pictures folder today, and it reminded me of one more thing that annoys me - bad grammar on public signs (this one was posted in the *gasp* Post Office.)

We ain't got...?

How are your “I” problems this week? Are you seeing others any better?

I can tell you that this has been a trying week for me, personally. But I’m old enough to know that when I put my mind to something within me I want to change, the enemy will do everything he can to stop me.

So how are you holding up this week? Have any praise reports to file? How about struggles? Are you able to put your focus on others this week so God can do His work in you?

This Sunday, we’re going to have an awesome time in worship with Leyden and I’d like to share just a few more things on this subject before we’re through. In the meantime, I’d like to know if any of you have had an opportunity to serve someone else this last 2 weeks, and if so, would you be willing to share with the rest of the class? Email me - resonate[at]hsriveroflife[dot]org and let me know.

We started our first discipleship class last night - MasterLife. The core verse in MasterLife is one that we should carry with us every day:

“If any man would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross DAILY and follow me.” - Luke 9:23

I wonder - how many of us right now are willing to drop everything we have and know, take up our crosses and follow Him? Think about that as you work through this week’s lesson.

As always, keep moving forward, and remember to Resonate Jesus in all you do.

- Justin

I’m kind of in a weird mood today, so I thought I’d list out a few of the things in life that annoy me. What about you? (keep it clean) :)

• when the internet at home doesn’t work for me the way I want it to.
• when I forget my phone
• when people are far too dramatic than the situation calls for (I’m including myself in there too!)
• when people leave CD’s sitting outside of a case - label side up.
• when my laptop won’t recognize my external hard drive
• when I start comparing Windows to Mac OSX Panther
• people who don’t check their email- ever
• when I don’t spend time with God like I should
• when I get upset over something ridiculous and stupid
• when my computer won’t burn a cd or dvd
• when I know I’m wrong and won’t admit it
• when I know someone else is wrong and they won’t admit it
• high gas prices
• buying a new car when you don’t have money in the bank
• trying to decide on what kind of motorcycle you would look best
• when I go a whole day and realize I didn’t once tell God how much I love Him
• when I go a whole day and realize I didn’t tell my wife how much I love her
• going more than 2 weeks without seeing my daughters
• angry drivers and stupid drivers

Wow. That list could probably go on for a while if I start thinking too long about it. What would you add to the list?

How have you challenged yourself this week to be more others-centered? In what ways have you tried to remove the “I” Factor from your life and begin serving others in creative ways?

Leave some comments and let me know! If you have some creative ways you’d like to share with the rest of the community, tell us, and I’ll share them in our next session, maybe post them in a special section of our site… bring it on!

How are we to break out from our self-centered lives and live instead in service of others? Selfishness is the topic this week as we look at what it takes to put others first.