Isaiah and Sara

On March 14th, Kyle, Kaylin, Julie, Val and I traveled to Norton Kansas to visit the Norton Christian Church and the youth minister, Mike Sander.

Sunday morning, I was able to teach a lesson titled, “Who is God?” that dealt with how we view God, and comparing Him to ourselves.  Each student wrote down aspects of themselves and then compared them to the description of God in Isaiah 40.

God won.

I then was able to share a bit about the college, then went straight to helping with the Children’s Church there.  After Church, we went to the “Rock” youth center in Norton for pizza and college discussion with high school students, which went well.

Then we were off to Concordia, Kansas…

Along the way we went through several towns with odd names… the oddest we found on the map was Men, Kansas.  Nice.

Upon arriving at Concordia, we went to the First Christian Church to help set up for the VBS we were to help with.

After a good night’s rest, we started VBS.  The program we went through was called Studio Go Game Show, which talked about how God called people to Go and do something, such as Go Lead, Go Tell, etc.

I was the “game show host” named Wade Winalot, and had a terribly ridiculous wig… the kids loved telling me how bad my hair was and that I should take off the wig.  That last sentence sounds like they were mean… but they weren’t… sniff.

Basically we would have an introduction time, with songs and a few game show games, then head off to 4 different stations to learn about the Bible story of the morning, then a closing show with Wade Winalot, Coach Armstrong (Kyle) and Professor Wordsmart (Julie).  Then we’d have lunch and start all over again in the afternoon.

It was a great program, and we had a lot of fun.

On Wednesday, we had the final session and then headed back to Scottsbluff.  We arrived Wednesday evening, and I began to prepare my next trip, which was to Lewistown, Montana… which will be the next post.

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who helped us along the way, with food, shelter and both of the Church’s – Norton Christian Church and First Christian Church in Concordia.  Special thanks to Mike Sander and Crystal Paredes for working with us to come down and for allowing us to serve beside them.

in Christ,

Isaiah

Psalm 113

1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! 4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! 5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, 6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? 7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.  Praise the LORD! - (ESV)

Throughout this day I’ve seen moments when I need to give God praise…

Take some time to stop and praise the one who set the sun in motion, who is high above the heavens and who is always in control…

Praise the Lord!

in Christ,

Isaiah

We get busy, and we forget who we really are.

We get hurt, and we forget who we really are.

We find ourselves in the midst of trials, and we lose ourselves – forgetting who we are.

But our identity in Christ is power.
Arron Chambers – Remember Who You Are

Last Wednesday I traveled to Bayard, Nebraska to visit the youth of the Bayard Christian Church.  I was there to teach a lesson, share about the college and hurt Chris, er… I mean to lead some games.

The best part about visiting Bayard was sharing stories from our time at SCC.  Chris, the Youth Minister, was my roommate in college.  I was able to share my story, of how Chris helped me get out of my shell, and some funny stories about waking up.  One involved a metal hanger, yelling Chris’ name and well… I think you can figure out what happened.

After the lesson and story, we played various games of tag.  I love tag – it requires no extra supplies… just youth and room to run.  We played varitions of Everyone’s IT, one of which was called Ninja Tag (my favorite).  In Ninja tag, you are allowed to be tagged three times, but each time you are tagged, you have to cover the wound with one of your hands.  Thus, after 2 times, you’re relegated to a purely defensive stance, but it is fun.

We also played a version called Rooster tag, in which you are allowed to only stand on one leg, and are only tagged out when the leg you are holding up touches the ground.  This version ended rather quickly, mostly because of a painful incident involving Garrett’s knee and Chris’ back.  I tried not to laugh.  Really!

Anyway, it was a fun trip to Bayard and I enjoyed visiting with the students.  So, now I pose a question:

What’s your funniest youth group story?

in Christ,

Isaiah

I was reading through the story of the Israelites as they built the Tabernacle in Exodus, and I came upon this passage.

Exodus 35:2-7
² Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. ³ They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. ⁴ So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.“ ⁶ Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more,⁷ because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

The Israelites just kept giving and giving and giving… They gave until the craftsman actually said, “Stop!”

What about us?

Are we giving to God, to our Churches, to others like that?

Just a thought…

in Christ,

Isaiah

What a day!  Wow… since lunch where I began spilling everything all over myself it has been a rough day.  I’m not going to relate here all that happened because that would be petty, unprofessional and definitely not Christ-like.  Lets just say it was a frustrating day…

Then I read this:

Isaiah 40:28, 29 (ESV)

²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. ²⁹ He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Apparently I forget how good and awesome and mighty God is.  Instead of praying for power and strength while I was being frustrated, I let frustration boil.  So I guess I need to ask myself:

Have you not known?  Have you not heard?

God is good, and everlasting!

Frustration is neither.

As I read that, and as I write this, I can feel the frustration peeling off of me.  God is in control… he is good and mighty, everlasting and never failing.

Focus on Him in frustrating times…

in Christ,

Isaiah

Today was Monday… I usually loathe Mondays.  They are my least favorite day, least creative day, and the hardest day for me to get up.  This morning that was compounded on by a massive headache that has slowly disappeared as the day has gone by.

Now that I’ve gone on a rant about Mondays, I want to figure out how I can change my perception about Monday.  Today I started realizing that since I’m not as creative on Mondays, I should move creative tasks to another day (duh!).

So that’s what I’ve done, I moved some creative tasks to another day and moved the organizing tasks to today.  I have to say… this Monday has been enjoyable, aside from the headache.

What do you do to tackle Mondays?

in Christ,

Isaiah

So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about—He is looking for us.
Simon Tugwell

Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God within them.
A. W. Tozer

This evening I departed for Alliance to visit Gabriel Tyce Bruton and his youth group at the Alliance Christian Church.  I left Scottsbluff, confident of the route to the church, and excited for the opportunity to speak.  Upon entering Alliance, I realized that though I knew the address, I didn’t know where this certain street was in Alliance.  I texted Gabe, swallowing my pride, and found that I had passed the street… oops.

Once I arrived and Gabe introduced me, we began a lesson on Doubt… discussing our own doubts and how God can use the doubts in our lives to draw us closer to him.  I then was able to share about Summit Christian College, and a little of my story.

The lesson finished, we played a game that you may or may not be familiar with.  Though known by a few names, tonight it was called, “Honey if you love me, would you please please smile”.  One person, stuck in the middle of a circle, must say the previous phrase, “Honey, if you love me, would you please please smile?” to one certain person in the circle.  That person must then respond, “Honey I love you, but I just can’t smile” without smiling, of course.  The game with the Alliance youth was quite fun, and we all shared some hearty laughter.

While I was driving home, I realized that I had been re-energized.  I have had several weeks since I visited youth, and have been mostly in a planning/paperwork/phone call stage of my job.  It was invigorating to get back to doing what I love, sharing God’s love and promoting a college that I think is making a difference for the Kingdom.

What energizes you?

in Christ,

Isaiah