The turkey (or ham, or ribs, or flaffel) has been eaten, the naps have been taken and the family has been visited. Thanksgiving has passed and we’re chugging on our way to Christmas as fast as possible.

Today, let’s take a few minutes to tell everyone what you were most thankful for yesterday. Does it change now that Thanksgiving is over? You let us know.

Me? I’m thankful for my job, my wonderful, smart, beautiful wife, and green bean bundles. And lots of other things. :)

(I just realized I had this written on Thursday when it was supposed to be published, but it never made it to the front page)

In keeping with our weekly tradition (it’s a tradition if it’s twice, right?) of talking about the holidays, the question for this week is on that same subject: Traditions. Answer if you dare. (not sure why I worded it that way, just sounded fun)

My family and I have traditions for different holidays. For Thanksgiving, we eat a meal together and then spend the evening decorating our house for Christmas. On Christmas, we always open one present the night before (usually the ones Allison tells us to open. hehe). I would like to start a new tradition where we help out at least one family enjoy Thanksgiving more by providing food and fellowship with them.

What traditions do you and your family have each year for the holidays? Do you like them? What traditions do you know others have that you would like to adopt?

Let us know. :)

Since we’re getting closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, I thought it would be nice to let everyone tell some of their own story. Each week until the end of the year, I’ll be posting on Thursday a question that everyone can answer, something related to Holiday Goodness.

This week: What is your favorite thing about the holidays?

Speak up!

Be sure to come to Resonate Worship this Sunday night at 6pm and talk back! You’ll have a chance to let us know what you like/don’t like about Resonate, give suggestions on how we can make a difference in our community and talk about many other topics.. come and let your voice be heard!

Then, check out http://www.resonateyouth.com for the results of our session!

Most people say that teenagers don’t really care about politics or what’s going on in the “real world” (as if teenagers live in their own little world or something.) I disagree. I think teenagers are quite capable of making their own decisions and would rather do so instead of just being told what to do.

It is in that vein that I submit to you my choice for the next president of the United States:

Thoughts? Suggestions??  Anyone?? Is this thing on?

I am not worthy.

That was the thought running through my head as I watched over 865 students gather on a high school football field last night. There were football players, cheerleaders, nerds, geeks, preps, goths and all other manner and “class” of teen there - all for one purpose: To come together in the name of Jesus. I’m sure some of them came just for the free pizza, but God’s ok with that too.

So after the pizza, and the greetings, and the worship team, and the student speakers, and the dramas (all great, by the way), someone came up and gave an altar call. I watched over 150 kids walk up to the front to make a first time commitment or a rededication. I followed, encouraged because I was a “youth pastor” and I can do this. Boy was I wrong.

There I stood, praying behind a few young men and after a while something occured to me. They had walked down the “aisles” to make this incredible life-changing decision, and I was scared to death to speak to them. I kept waiting for some other leader or adult they might have known to come find themThey didn’t know me from Adam or any other guy, and yet they were supposed to pour out their greatest needs at this most emotional moment? Nope. They stood there, eyes open, waiting for something miraculous to happen. Nothing did. The longer I stood there, the more I knew that if I didn’t say anything to them, they were going to walk away, unchanged, and probably not make a decision like this again in the near future.

So there, standing on the 40-yard-line of a football field , surrounded by 864 other people, God helped me overcome something I didn’t even know I had a problem with. I mustered up my courage and tapped both boys on the shoulder. “I know you don’t know me,” I said, “but I wanted to ask you something: Why did you come down here?” “To know God,” the boy names James said. The other boy known as Jonathan nodded.

God moved, overcame fear, and began change in those lives last night. And I got to be a witness for Him.

I am not worthy. But I’m glad I was there.

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.