What happens when you have a tape worm?
You don't poop?
You eat a lot?
Having a tape worm is good!- Daniel
I spent an ENTIRE day alone with your mom. I deserve at least ONE date- Michael
Guys...for real. When I was in middle school..it was COOL to be in band.- Daniel
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Take 8
Advent United Methodist- Simpsonville, SC (basically Greenville)
We had our first little session tonight with the kids..it's mostly middle school age which is always very energetic and random..we kind of feel like professionals at this point with just getting the schedule set up..etc.
Tonight I gave the message on this: read it if you have time...it's pretty relevant to any age group
---------------------------------------------------------------------
How does knowing God make your life different?
My entire life I labeled myself a Christian. I believed in God, I went to church, I tried to be ”good”. I knew not to lie, steal, cheat, etc..
The character part of being a Christian was always enforced in my life by my family... I mostly think for their own assurance that their kid was not going to be some corrupt hoodlum running around doing bad things.
But what was never really stressed to me or really even acknowledged from my point of view, was how different a life knowing God should look compared to others that do not know God. How different MY life, my own life that I was living, should look.
A lot of people in the world consider themselves Christians. They might go to church once a year or maybe even once a week. They might pray when something really really bad happens in their lives. They might give God a passing thought when something great happens. But how are we, as Christians, supposed to impact lives if our own look no different than that of the ones we are trying to influence?
One of my favorite books in the bible is 1Peter. I’m not really sure why. Maybe because it has a sweet shortness about it that gets straight to the point. But in 1 Peter there is a verse that says “If the righteous (meaning us, Christians, believers, followers of Jesus, etc) are barely saved, what will happen to the godless sinners?”
This verse hit me really hard last summer because I realized my life not only would look no different without God, but that my life was not helping anyone else’s life get closer to God. And that is a problem. Besides loving God, our purpose to is to share the love of God with those that don’t know it. And how can we do that if we aren’t even living in God’s love..or if we pretend we are by calling ourselves Christians but not letting God change our lives. He desires so desperately for us to allow Him to change our hearts and for us to know our first Father. Our Protector. Our Savior. Our Lover. and our Best Friend.
in Zephaniah 3:17 we are told “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Who else promises you this? It’s for real. and It’s amazing. And because we have this promised to us, we should find peace in stressful situations. We can keep our joy in really sad times, when the world brings hard things against us to make us second guess who we are or what we should be doing with our lives we can just stop. and know that our identity is in God’s kingdom and is not this world’s to define.
As Christians we are meant to live lives that non-Christians don’t understand. They should be confused, amazed, and skeptical by the things we say our God does in our lives.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This was actually pretty hard talk for me to give tonight... We found that a girl from our very first week of Crossfire (at Kolomoki Camp in Blakely) had gone through something seriously traumatic. Her father killed (by shooting) her mother, her brother, attempted the same with her (thank you Jesus she is ok) and then went on to kill himself. This girl is eleven. And her world just got turned over and dumped out. My heart is just hurting for her and for what she didn't deserve and is having to deal with alone. All I can think of is how do you get over something like that when you are eleven years old? How do you help someone with that? It's simply just draining me at the moment to think about this precious little girl I saw so carefree just a month ago now having to sort out the why's and how's and every other unanswerable question that is going through her head. Please just...pray for peace in her heart...her name is Emily.
We had our first little session tonight with the kids..it's mostly middle school age which is always very energetic and random..we kind of feel like professionals at this point with just getting the schedule set up..etc.
Tonight I gave the message on this: read it if you have time...it's pretty relevant to any age group
---------------------------------------------------------------------
How does knowing God make your life different?
My entire life I labeled myself a Christian. I believed in God, I went to church, I tried to be ”good”. I knew not to lie, steal, cheat, etc..
The character part of being a Christian was always enforced in my life by my family... I mostly think for their own assurance that their kid was not going to be some corrupt hoodlum running around doing bad things.
But what was never really stressed to me or really even acknowledged from my point of view, was how different a life knowing God should look compared to others that do not know God. How different MY life, my own life that I was living, should look.
A lot of people in the world consider themselves Christians. They might go to church once a year or maybe even once a week. They might pray when something really really bad happens in their lives. They might give God a passing thought when something great happens. But how are we, as Christians, supposed to impact lives if our own look no different than that of the ones we are trying to influence?
One of my favorite books in the bible is 1Peter. I’m not really sure why. Maybe because it has a sweet shortness about it that gets straight to the point. But in 1 Peter there is a verse that says “If the righteous (meaning us, Christians, believers, followers of Jesus, etc) are barely saved, what will happen to the godless sinners?”
This verse hit me really hard last summer because I realized my life not only would look no different without God, but that my life was not helping anyone else’s life get closer to God. And that is a problem. Besides loving God, our purpose to is to share the love of God with those that don’t know it. And how can we do that if we aren’t even living in God’s love..or if we pretend we are by calling ourselves Christians but not letting God change our lives. He desires so desperately for us to allow Him to change our hearts and for us to know our first Father. Our Protector. Our Savior. Our Lover. and our Best Friend.
in Zephaniah 3:17 we are told “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Who else promises you this? It’s for real. and It’s amazing. And because we have this promised to us, we should find peace in stressful situations. We can keep our joy in really sad times, when the world brings hard things against us to make us second guess who we are or what we should be doing with our lives we can just stop. and know that our identity is in God’s kingdom and is not this world’s to define.
As Christians we are meant to live lives that non-Christians don’t understand. They should be confused, amazed, and skeptical by the things we say our God does in our lives.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This was actually pretty hard talk for me to give tonight... We found that a girl from our very first week of Crossfire (at Kolomoki Camp in Blakely) had gone through something seriously traumatic. Her father killed (by shooting) her mother, her brother, attempted the same with her (thank you Jesus she is ok) and then went on to kill himself. This girl is eleven. And her world just got turned over and dumped out. My heart is just hurting for her and for what she didn't deserve and is having to deal with alone. All I can think of is how do you get over something like that when you are eleven years old? How do you help someone with that? It's simply just draining me at the moment to think about this precious little girl I saw so carefree just a month ago now having to sort out the why's and how's and every other unanswerable question that is going through her head. Please just...pray for peace in her heart...her name is Emily.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Mexican Tradition
Trinity United Methodist
big church
cool youth room
We got fed Burger King..and thanks to the overwhelming cultural storm that is Eclipse, some of us won FREE french toast sticks, cheeseburgers, and other foods from the scratch offs! sweet!
Last night we started off with Daniel giving a talk--"God is alive"
Main points were:
-His powers are infinite
-Joy, Peace, and Love are given to us and are more powerful than anything we go through. We just have to receive it and walk in them. They will trump anything not of God that might be attacking us.
We had a fun round of the Evolution game and we introduced them to Trashcan Tag-- they loved it.
fast forward- we have some SWEEEEEEET host homes. like. so unbelievably great. The girls and guys are separated again but our communication has improved enough so that this really isn't hindering anything...and can I just say...the girls woke up this morning to eggs and already buttered toast waiting for us at the table with orange juice already poured into our glasses...sweet people.
So fast forward again through a restless night of not sleeping because I was about to amputate my arms and legs with my own hands they itched so badly.
This morning. Kyle and I did a little duo speech about worth.
We hit on the points of:
-Romans 8:15- our identity is that of an heir, a child of God.
-just like we've received genes from our biological parents we have received characteristics of God because that's what happens with children and their parents.
-We received these things because we have been made worthy to receive them
-We are entrusted to represent God on earth because through Him, we are made WORTHY of trust. Because God is in us. We are worthy because God lives in us.
-But this worth...this precious worth and value that is placed on our lives..means nothing if we are not WILLING.
willing to seek. willing to hear. willing to obey.
what are we doing if we are not seeking God's voice to do what he says?
So with that message..I got to my 8th and 9th grade girls small group and they ask about evolution..ha.
now. we go eat mexican. again.because it would not be Crossfire if a church did not feed us mexican. Maybe I'll be able to speak Spanish by August.
Famous Words
Erica, you should write a book- Kyle
I thought about it once..- Erica
Keep thinking about it...-Kyle : )
Kyle, I just really want a baby...like now. - Erica
.....I really wish I could help you with that....but...we're not married Kyle
God's Alive. He's alive in you. Are you alive?-Daniel during his talk to the crowd
I'm alive!- Erica
Yeah..see..Erica's alive..I mean, she has scabies...but she's alive- Daniel
I'm sorry if I'm being too biblical..but we are in church- Daniel yet again during his talk
Every time I eat I feel nauseous- Michael
Maybe that's God's way of saying you need to go fast- Judi
Or maybe I just have stomach cancer..-Michael
We should figure out a Crossfire fast- Daniel
Oh, you mean like only eating Mexican?- Michael
big church
cool youth room
We got fed Burger King..and thanks to the overwhelming cultural storm that is Eclipse, some of us won FREE french toast sticks, cheeseburgers, and other foods from the scratch offs! sweet!
Last night we started off with Daniel giving a talk--"God is alive"
Main points were:
-His powers are infinite
-Joy, Peace, and Love are given to us and are more powerful than anything we go through. We just have to receive it and walk in them. They will trump anything not of God that might be attacking us.
We had a fun round of the Evolution game and we introduced them to Trashcan Tag-- they loved it.
fast forward- we have some SWEEEEEEET host homes. like. so unbelievably great. The girls and guys are separated again but our communication has improved enough so that this really isn't hindering anything...and can I just say...the girls woke up this morning to eggs and already buttered toast waiting for us at the table with orange juice already poured into our glasses...sweet people.
So fast forward again through a restless night of not sleeping because I was about to amputate my arms and legs with my own hands they itched so badly.
This morning. Kyle and I did a little duo speech about worth.
We hit on the points of:
-Romans 8:15- our identity is that of an heir, a child of God.
-just like we've received genes from our biological parents we have received characteristics of God because that's what happens with children and their parents.
-We received these things because we have been made worthy to receive them
-We are entrusted to represent God on earth because through Him, we are made WORTHY of trust. Because God is in us. We are worthy because God lives in us.
-But this worth...this precious worth and value that is placed on our lives..means nothing if we are not WILLING.
willing to seek. willing to hear. willing to obey.
what are we doing if we are not seeking God's voice to do what he says?
So with that message..I got to my 8th and 9th grade girls small group and they ask about evolution..ha.
now. we go eat mexican. again.because it would not be Crossfire if a church did not feed us mexican. Maybe I'll be able to speak Spanish by August.
Famous Words
Erica, you should write a book- Kyle
I thought about it once..- Erica
Keep thinking about it...-Kyle : )
Kyle, I just really want a baby...like now. - Erica
.....I really wish I could help you with that....but...we're not married Kyle
God's Alive. He's alive in you. Are you alive?-Daniel during his talk to the crowd
I'm alive!- Erica
Yeah..see..Erica's alive..I mean, she has scabies...but she's alive- Daniel
I'm sorry if I'm being too biblical..but we are in church- Daniel yet again during his talk
Every time I eat I feel nauseous- Michael
Maybe that's God's way of saying you need to go fast- Judi
Or maybe I just have stomach cancer..-Michael
We should figure out a Crossfire fast- Daniel
Oh, you mean like only eating Mexican?- Michael
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Take 2
Post July 4th. We return slightly darker, with less purple under our eyes, and with a dramatic increase of energy.
Tomorrow we start off with a church in Warner Robbins- Trinity United Methodist..
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1585214
and we'll be eating these on the ride down.
this church is pretty much on us. no already planned out anything..so just pray that we will be hearing God and speaking to his kids what he is saying...
oh, yeah...and I have scabies. great. going to the doctor tomorrow.
Tomorrow we start off with a church in Warner Robbins- Trinity United Methodist..
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1585214
and we'll be eating these on the ride down.
this church is pretty much on us. no already planned out anything..so just pray that we will be hearing God and speaking to his kids what he is saying...
oh, yeah...and I have scabies. great. going to the doctor tomorrow.
Friday, July 2, 2010
forgotten
I don't have a pen...I don't have any paper...I just want to go fishing- Daniel
Your arm looks big- Daniel..talking to me..apparently this was a compliment?
"does he even own a shirt?"-Edward in Eclipse talking about half naked Jacob "i certainly hope not"- Kelly's mom commentating..
The next series of quotes were our attempt to teach Daniel how to compliment someone without saying "your arm looks big"..
Kyle to me- Your eyes are like...warm maple syrup. like when you wake up on a saturday and you're about to have a big stack of pancakes...you pour the maple syrup on them and you just smile..because you know it's going to be a good day
Me to Kyle- Your eyes...are like a warm log cabin. You walk in after a chilly night and there's a nice warm fire waiting for you and it just feels like home.
Kyle to Stephanie- Your eyes are like a placid lake. in the valley..with tall trees around it. still and peaceful
Daniel has observed our compliments and attempts to give Kyle one- Your eyes...............(long pause)........are deep.
there are still more...when my brain recharges they will hopefully come back to me
Your arm looks big- Daniel..talking to me..apparently this was a compliment?
"does he even own a shirt?"-Edward in Eclipse talking about half naked Jacob "i certainly hope not"- Kelly's mom commentating..
The next series of quotes were our attempt to teach Daniel how to compliment someone without saying "your arm looks big"..
Kyle to me- Your eyes are like...warm maple syrup. like when you wake up on a saturday and you're about to have a big stack of pancakes...you pour the maple syrup on them and you just smile..because you know it's going to be a good day
Me to Kyle- Your eyes...are like a warm log cabin. You walk in after a chilly night and there's a nice warm fire waiting for you and it just feels like home.
Kyle to Stephanie- Your eyes are like a placid lake. in the valley..with tall trees around it. still and peaceful
Daniel has observed our compliments and attempts to give Kyle one- Your eyes...............(long pause)........are deep.
there are still more...when my brain recharges they will hopefully come back to me
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Privet, Blue Ridge, Messy Games version 2, Zombies
Ok. yet again...we've had very little down time and if we do i chose to sleep instead of updating this thing..but here is my 2 week word vomit
River of Life- Ringgold, GA
Amazing.
Rewarding.
Exhausting.
** The night we got there, Tuesday, we prayed for our host daughter's knee which was super sore and hurt every time she went up stairs and after we prayed she ran up and down the stairs and could bend down without any pain, sweet Jesus**
We spent Tuesday-Sunday at Ringgold United Methodist at their River of Life which is a mission week that multiple churches participate in...hang out..worship...eat..etc.
Since I'm writing this blog and we were on separate work sites throughout the week you'll only be getting my perspective. so...yeah.sorry.
Thursday and Friday was spent at this really sweet woman's house who uses a walker and just can't get around easily. her daughter lives with her and takes care of most things..but they definitely needed the extra help to get the house back to good.
My team rebuilt a lot of the back porch so that she could start using it again..we had to pull up a lot of rotten boards and we built new rails and steps for her. And just because my team was awesome...we pulled the weeds for her too..because...they were just ugly.
My team was also called the Fender Benders...just because you needed to know that.
The last work day, Saturday, we went to a Trail of Tears historical site at Audubon Acres. We pulled Privet. For hours. and this wonderful Privet was surrounded by poison ivy.
I'd just like to take this time to say, "Thanks a lot, China. You really are a jem of a country bringing that crap over."- sincerely, Erica
We played a lot of Chinese numbers, bang bang bang who's dead?, umbrella, the "____" game, snaps, and other completely pointless, frustrating, and dumb games that the kids only sometimes figured out.
leaving Ringgold, Ga...we had a 2 day break so we went to a cabin in Blue Ridge with Wendy and Tony (my parentals)
that was fun.but really. it was. and yummy.
Catching back up to present day...we are in ATHENS. wooooo. but of course....not really in Athens.
The churches this summer have loved seeing how far away from the actual church they can actually get us. We're about 20 miles away from this one...which is....
Tuckston United Methodist.
We started here Tuesday night with a pool party with some of the youth at our host's home..
Kyle's mad asian skills on the diving board dared me to try my white girl skills on the diving board and I successfully did not die while doing a back flip. yes.
Yesterday
We woke up early, yet arrived late in typical Crossfire fashion. We played some game for 3 hours then went to play paintball with the youth...from what I hear it was pretty awesome. I had an eye infection and lost my glasses which forced me to take a nice nap in the van.....
Last night Michael and I tag teamed the talk about "Dating" with no emphasis on purity because then the kids would have to get a consent form. We hit the points of:
Why do we date?
The roles of a guy/girl in dating
Dating non-christians
Prayer in dating
Today
We woke up not as early so a fun morning of mission work around the church.
Thennnnnnnnnn MESSY GAMES. FOR 3 HOURS. WOOOOOO. except...hot.and distgusting. and sticky. and smelly.
Tonight we had a talk led by Judi and Michael about Leadership in Ministry..and then small groups. and then hang out time. which is now. but i still don't have contacts or glasses so I can't play anything. sweet.
Memorable quotes of the 2 weeks
- Judi let the Jews into Prom!
more to come...i can't even hear myself think as i type this. thank you youth and dodgeball in a gym.
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