Hey there! Have a SYATP story you’d like to share? Tell us about what happened at your school!

You’ve probably already seen this parody of an SNL skit, but thought I’d share anyway.. CHURCH SUCKA!

Attention Teenage Girls: It’s cool to go to church now.

Now that Miley Cyrus has done it (with her underwear model boyfriend), everyone should!

Check out this pic and the link to the whole story on the MSN Gossip Page!

Click here for the story

I have a terrible memory. Ask my wife, she’ll just look at you gravely and nod her head.

So when, during my nighttime prayers I asked God to help me make time for him this morning, I fell asleep with the full expectation of taking as much time for Him as needed today. Then I woke up. I got dressed, got in the car and came to the office ready for the day. Then God used a telemarketer to remind me of my request.

His name was Colin and he was from Teen Mania. At first, I held the phone to my ear and planted my face in my hands wondering when the sales pitch for summer camps or videos or some other youth resources his company thinks I need would end. Then he shook me from my mindful meandering with a simple question: “is there something you’d like me to pray for in regard to your ministry?” huh? This salesman wanted to pray with me? “uh, yeah, actually there is” was my bewildered response. I talked to him for a minute about what was heavy on my heart and right then and there, he began to pray.

On the phone, this perfect stranger was doing with me - for me - what I had asked God to help me do more of today.

You see, God knew I would need help with this today, and he put my number on a call sheet. He fulfilled His promise to my request, and I will try harder tomorrow.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

- Mark 11:22-25

What are you asking God for today?

While the prophet Samuel was young, he lived in the Temple under the spiritual guidance of Eli. One night God called Samuel’s name, but he thought it was Eli. After this happened several times, Eli realized the truth and told Samuel to go back to bed and if he heard the voice again to respond by saying…

Speak, Lord for your servant is listening!
1 Samuel 3:9b

God did call and Samuel listened. This began a relationship with God that went on throughout Samuel’s life. In fact, in verse 19, it says, “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his [God’s] words fall to the ground.”

At another point as Samuel was an old man, he addressed Israel: “I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand.” The people agreed that Samuel had led them with integrity and honor all his years, but it began when he was young.

It all started for Samuel when he made a connection with God at an early age. And he chose to continue to connect with Him daily throughout his life.

It’s tough being a Christian student today, isn’t it? You have to make a lot of choices about who you are—and who you’re not. You have to try and follow God in a world that misunderstands Christianity and tolerates its principles less and less all the time.

What if, like Samuel you:

• made a connection with God as a young person?
• declared, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”?
• never let any of God’s words “fall to the ground” in your own life?

Gather with others at this year’s See You At The Pole. Begin to pray now that God will help you overcome your worries about standing up for him just this one morning a year. Join hands with your follow “soldiers in Christ” and lift up your school, the teachers, your principal in prayer. And Connect with your community - and God - in a way you may not ever have before.

Thanks to SYATP for most of this info.

Have a SYATP story you’d like to share? Post it here.

In light of the recent storms, I have spent a lot of time lately watching the Weather Channel and other assorted news varieties.

Intermixed with the reports of wind speeds and wave heights and forecasted projections, I’ve paid special attention to the reports of the people in “immediate danger” who had decided to stay where they are and risk it all. To hear the reporters say it, those people are stupid and reckless, or at the very least uninformed of the danger they’re in. I have to say, I was partially in agreement with them; that is, until I watched an interview with one of those “questionable” people.

In this interview, with wind whipping all around them, the interviewer and the “crazy” guy are standing in his yard. He’s asked something like “Why have you chosen to stay when you know you’re going to be pulverized by this giant storm?” and he responds with “Because it’s our home, we started here, and, if needed, we’ll end here.”

That bit gave me pause. “It’s our home.” He might as well have said “We believe in this place, and we’re desperate to keep it.” In my mind, this is how we should be living out our faith. With desperation. We should be living as if there’s a storm coming and we know exactly how dangerous it may be for us. It may even cost us our lives; but we’re Desperate to keep our footing, to stay in place and trust in Jesus for safety and strength. For if we do, the blessings after the storm are well worth it.

What have you been desperate for in your life? Would you be willing to give your life for what you believe in most?

Ok, so today seems to be “Way Back Wednesday” for a lot of people - thanks to a fellow blogger for bringing this to light. Oh yeah. I think we need to put this together for a River of Life service soon!

Comments? Complaints? Ideas?

“He taught me how to prrraise my God and still play Rock-n-Roll”... I love it.. can’t get it out of my head now. Zap!

Ok, make it stop.

For those of you who weren’t there (and those of you who were, but were just too sleepy), the lock-in last Friday night was a blast! Although I have to say lock-ins were never my favorite part of youth group when I was younger, I find that I’m enjoying them more the older I get.. I mean, when else do you get to stay up for 2 days straight and it’s ok to drink nothing but sodas and coffee and do nothing but play RockBand?? oh yeah, when you were 15.

Tired?

Anyway, now that I’m finally rested up, I’ve posted some pics of the lock-in on the Gallery page, so check them out, and leave comments about how it went for you!

Peace.

No, I didn’t make it up so people would appreciate me. In fact, I didn’t know until recently that yesterday (Saturday, September 6th) was National Youth Worker Appreciation Day - a mouthful to say the least.

So, in recognition of this auspicious occasion, I’d like to recognize and appreciate our wonderful youth workers at Resonate:

Brandon and Amber Bates - you guys have been here the longest, and are always there when called on. Without your help, we wouldn’t have survived the last year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Derrick and Lindsey Hood - the two of you have recently joined our team and have already made an impact on what we do. I thank you so much for following your heart - it lead you to us. I look forward to much time spent with you guys.

Brittney McCaleb, Andrea Douglas, Allison Pierce (and so many more individuals) - although you’re not here week after week, your efforts have greatly impacted what we do and the lives of our kids. We love you much. I’m sorry if I left out anyone else in particular.

Matt Graves, our newest worker - keep it up man, looking forward to much fun with video, music, and everything else you can do. Rock it.

My wife Allison - although you inherited this job by being married to me, I know you’ve always claimed this group and these kids as your own. You cry with me, laugh with me and prop me up when I need to lean. I love you.

Of course, to our greatest “workers” - the parents of our students - we love you all. Your job is the hardest of all, but with the greatest reward. God bless you all.

All of you make my job the best on earth. Thanks.