New Years Party

FYI, the New Years Eve Party will be at Charlie's house. 2180 Essex Street in Bangor.

7pm to 7am. Come prepared to be outside on a cold winters night.

Please bring a snack to share and a pizza topping (sauce, or cheese would be okay too), and feel free to bring your favorite board game. (Special request, some bring quelf!)

Look forward to seeing all of you!

The True Meaning of Christmas

It is Christmas time, and while many of us say that Jesus is the reason for the season, it is easy to get caught up in what's under the tree, or in the parties, or even in the time with loved ones.  So how to we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season?  What does that even mean?

We give each other gifts to celebrate the gift God gave us when he gave us Jesus.  That's the real reason we started celebrating Christmas.

If you are up for a challenge, do the following:

Step 1. Take an index card or a piece of paper and write down "I am thankful that God gave me Jesus because_______________________.  Fill in your reason, or reasons.  Make sure they are personal and meaningful to you. 

Step 2.  Write down the name of a friend or family member that you think would benefit from the gift of Jesus.

Step 3.  Pray for that person every day for at least 1 week.

Step 4.  Sometime between now and Christmas, ask that person why they enjoy "the holidays" and tell them your reason for being thankful from Step 1.

I'd love to hear your reasons for being thankful that God gave you Jesus and your stories about sharing that with the people that matter in your life.

Thanksgiving Baskets

One month from now is Black Friday!  Crazy thought.  In one month Thanksgiving will have come and gone, and millions of Americans will be focused on saving a buck on stuff they want, or want to give.

But we won't let Thanksgiving pass by without remembering those in need.

The Saturday the 17th, we will be collecting and distributing Thanksgiving baskets, full of all the essentials for a traditional holiday feast.  Last year we planned to donate to 4 families in need, but we collected enough to bless 10.  This year we are planning to bless 10, but excited to see what God will do.

Do you know of a family who could use a little extra this Thanksgiving?  If so let me know.  Last year we had more baskets than names of families in need.  This year I would love to be able to make sure that everything that is donated goes to those who need it most.  (This year if we have more donations than needy families we will donate the excess items to Manna Ministries.)

If you are a teen, who participates in 24/7, it is time to start planing ahead.  Ask friends and neighbors to have some items on hand to donate on the afternoon of the 17th.  We will split into teams and collect the items, then come back to the church gym to package them up, before heading back out to drop them off.

Items to be collected include:

Turkeys
Stuffing
Potatos (or mashed potato flakes)
Canned vegetables (Corn, green beans, carrots)
Cranberry sauce
Squash
Pumpkin Pie Filing
Graham Cracker Crusts
Dry drink mix (like lemonade or ice tea)
Chocolate Pudding (for chocolate cream pie)
Homemade items, like jams, apple sauce or pickles
Turkey gravy mix

The team that collects the most baskets will get a gift card for a feast of their own.

Bon-Fire

Hey Guys, You are all invited to my house next Saturday.  Instead of regular youth group we will be having a Bonfire in my new fire pit.  (which I made with the help of my 2 wonderful sons)

There will be s'mores and hot dogs. 

Dress warm as we will be outside all night.  If you have a camp chair, you might want to bring it! 

Get more details on the events page of this blog.   

Call if you have any questions.

See you Saturday!

Trust: Baby Steps

We've been talking all month about what God is really like.  Challenging our misconceptions and going to the Word to see who God says He is.  We've learned that He is Creator, and therefore He makes the rules that we live by.  We also learned that He hates pride, because pride motivates us to do what we want to do, rather than live according to God's plan.

This week we are learning that we can trust God. 

Trust: Confident reliance on the truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

A baby relies on its parents for survival.  And we should rely on God in the same way.  But a baby doesn't really trust its parents.  It isn't confident that they will meet its needs.  Instead baby's scream and cry about every little thing as if it were the end of the world. 

When it comes to trusting God we should have confidence that He will do everything He promises to do. But how do we get there?

A baby grows up, he has experiences that show him that he can trust God.  But relying on our own experiences can be dangerous when it comes to God, because we lack perspective.  Just like a baby may not understand why something is happening, we don't always understand. 

So how do we trust if we don't understand?

Get to know God for who He says He is.  Don't trust solely in experience, or what you've heard, but get to know Him the way He wants to be known.  He left you a 66 book love letter.  Hundreds of pages of who He is and why He is trustworthy in His own words.

Peter tells us that "Like newborn babies" we should, "Crave pure spiritual milk." By reading God's words, and coming to know Him on an intimate personal basis, the Bible tell us we will 'grow up' in our salvation.

So what do you crave?  Do you Crave 'pure spiritual milk',or is there something else?  Maybe you crave good things, like straight A's, championship games, and great friends.  Or maybe you are like me and crave entertainment, a good book or movie, something tasty to eat, and whatever else will make you happier in the moment. 

Think about the things you enjoy most and ask yourself, "Do I really crave God like I crave my favorite things?" 

If you struggle to really crave God, then spend some time with Him. Right after telling us to 'crave pure spiritual milk', Peter tells us to "taste and see that the Lord is good".  

It is worth it.  But don't take my word for it.  Trust and see. 

Pride

What are you proud of?  I mean really proud of? 

I love hearing from my teens and catching up on their lives.  This is the main reason that we devote about 1/3 of our weekly time together to just "hanging out".  We need a chance to catch up on whats important, since we don't see each other everyday. 

Usually I hear about the important stuff like this:

• My brother and I were playing Madden and...
• I made the team...
• I got my driver's permit/license...
• I passed my test...
• I made 20 new facebook friends...

Sometimes I hear about things that really matter like this:

• I got tickets to the concert!
• I'm going to a Pats game!
• I got a new Ipod!
• I scored x number of points!
• I'm dating this new person!
• I got accepted to 3 colleges!

I really love hearing about this stuff, and I'm not making fun of any of it, even the Madden stuff...  I really do specifically set aside time in each week so that each student will have time to tell me, or one of the other small group leaders what happened this week that mattered most.  I just wonder how often we stop and wonder if what is important to us is the same stuff that would matter to God.

Here's a few things I have heard recently that I think God would be really proud of:

• I got a purity ring, but when I try to explain it to people at school they make fun of me.
• Our teacher thinks aliens made people, but my friends, come to me with questions about God because of what I say in class.
• I had this awesome conversation about God with my friend from school.
• This guy I really liked, said he wouldn't date me because of my purity ring.
• I skipped practice to be here.

Here's what I know.  "We were created to pursue an authentic relationship with our Creator."  The things we do that move us closer to God, are the things we can be proud of, but the other stuff... Well that's a bit tougher.

Saul was a guy who had every reason to be proud of himself.  By the standards of his culture he was a rock star.  But God had to take it all away, even his name, and remake him.  Saul, later known as Paul, said this,  "Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, For his sake I have thrown away everything else, counting it all as garbage."

What matters most to you? What are you proud of?  What have you thrown away so that you could follow Jesus?

Schedule Change and Update

A new school year means we are all a little older and hopefully getting a little wiser.  As your youth ministry team gets better at working together hopefully we get a little wiser too! 

Here is run down on a few things that being 'refined' at 24/7.

1. Schedule.  We are going to start at 5:30 instead of 6:00.  We will still get done at 8:00.

2. Small Groups. After a combined Jr. & Sr. High time of food, fun and fellowship, we will be splitting into small group for our weekly Bible Studies. Each Small group will last 8 weeks, and will discuss a particular topic or passage of scripture.  This will allow us to focus on things that are relevant to your life, rather than trying to find one topic that will reach everyone from 6-12th grade. 

For some small groups you'll have options of which one you pick.  Others will have restrictions, like, Senior High only, Jr. High only, Girls only or Guys only.

Your first Choices will be:

"Christianity 101"

"Purity" - Girls only

"Be a Man" - Guys only

NOTE:  The youth ministry team reserves the right to 'assign' you to the group that we think will best meet your spiritual needs. This is just a precaution, because (using sarcastic voice) we know that no one in our  youth group would EVER choose what group to be in just because of which friends are going to that group. (end Sarcasm)

3. Youth Group on Facebook.  We have a group on facebook and it is a great place for you to find out the details about upcoming events, and stay connected with friends.  If you are on facebook, and are not already a member of that group but want the details, message me, and let me know.  If you are not on facebook, don't worry, I'll have all of the same info here on the Blog.

4. Announcements.  Mom and Dad, this one is for you.  The last 15 minutes of each Saturday Night 24/7 will be set aside for announcements about upcoming or events or ongoing projects.  Please feel free to pop in and join us, so that you'll be well informed.

5. Bible Study.  We are opening our Wednesday afternoon Bible to all Sr. High Students who would like to attend.  We meet from 3:30 - 4:30 every Wednesday.  We go verse by verse through the Bible and pray for each other.   We are currently studying the book of John, and will be starting chapter 8 this week. 
WARNING: If you come, you'll be expected to do the following: Read out loud, Pray out loud, Ask questions when you don't understand something, and Share your thoughts and experiences.

6. Drama. We had a blast with the drama team this summer, and we have lots of opportunities to do more, both here at CBC and hopefully elsewhere.  If we have enough interested students (meaning 4 or more) we will start a weekly Drama team, Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30.  Call, Text or E-mail Charlie if you are interested.

God Rules

Have you ever had that moment with your parents where you have been debating one of their rules, and why you have to do it their way?  If your teen years are anything like mine, then you will have a conversation that ends with your mom or dad saying something like this, "It is my house and as long as you are living under my roof you are going to follow my rules". 

For me this conversation happened a couple of times, but the one I most vividly remember was when I was 19.  I had spend a semester away at college in Boston, but it was too expensive, and I had come home with about 27 cents to my name and enrolled at UMaine.  To save money I was going to live at home.  I had no car, so to get to school I had to borrow my dad's pickup.  Again to save money I figured eating their food was a good idea.

I had spent months answerable only to myself, now I was back to depending on mom and dad for food, shelter and transportation.  Interestingly enough, there were strings attached.

If I wanted to use the car, I had to be willing to drive my 3 little sisters around.
If I wanted a place to live, I had to respect a curfew.
If I wanted to be fed, I had to ask before inviting people over.

Rules...  Someone else's rules!  The horror!

The fact of the matter was, these were really simple rules, but after having lived with basically no rules for a few months, I was aghast at the thought of having someone tell me what I couldn't and couldn't do.  But I obeyed.  Not because I was a thoughtful caring person. Not because I knew that God commanded that I honor my father and mother.  No, I obeyed for one simple reason.

I followed their rules because I wanted to use their stuff.

Now read Genesis 1:1 - and for good measure read Job 12:10, Isaiah 42:5 and Acts 17:24-28

If God made everything, including me, doesn't he have a right to tell me what rules I must follow if I want to use what He has given me?  (in case you are not sure, the answer is YES)

Jesus said that all of God's rules can be summed up into one: Love Him, with all of your Heart Soul Mind and Strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself.

But what does that look like? 

Jesus said, If you love me you will obey my commandments, and "a knew command I give you, love each other as I have loved you."

In 2nd John 6 we read "And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments"

And in 1st John 5:2 we read "by this we know that love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments." and vs. 3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome."

Whoa...  the greatest commandments is to love God, and the way I love God is to obey His commandments?  the 2nd greatest commandment is to love my neighbor as myself and to do that I must love God and observe His commandments. 

So... Rules, obedience?  Yuck, right?  Ummm, remember, 1st John 5:3b "His commandments are not burdensome"  But they feel like a burden sometimes right? I know I've thought, "I can't do what I want to do, because I have to follow God's rules..." 

There is a dilemma here, and it is one we'll be talking about all month at 24/7. 

Another Year Begins

So School either just started or is about to start depending on which town you're in.  Summer is over.  And the marathon of another year begins.  For some it is the final leg of the high school race.  For others it is the beginning. 

 

There will be friends, teachers, homework, sports, more homework, tests, quizzes, practice, dances, dates and of course, homework. 

But what about perspective?

School demands so much time and attention, it dominates your schedule and it can be easy to feel like your life revolves around it, but... Does your life revolve around school?  Should it? 

 

What are you first?  Some of you are students first, some are athletes, some are nobody, and some are too cool to be defined, some of you transcend multiple categories while others would give anything just to find one place to fit in.

 

But you are more than any of these.  If you've been to even a handful of youth activities at CBC you should know this verse:

 

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them."  Ephesians 2:10

 

 

No matter what else you do, what you are, is a unique work of art, with a unique mission that only you can accomplish. 

 

God has good works for you to each day.

Will you walk in them?

Or will you be dragged along by the current of homework, friends, sports, classes, and just trying to survive?

 

You are the light of the world... Can people see a difference?

Cast Photos

Here are the cast photos from our VBS production




























(From Right to Left) Professor Hoogleraar the brilliant inventor, Ms. Smith aka Irving, an evil genius whose plan it take over the world, Carllotta aka Carl, the friendly loan officer from Ms. Smith's bank, Petunia, aka Pete, aka Tunia, the main character who takes a job helping the professor change the world, Roger the Robot, the professors creation, Lillian, a spy who works for Ms. Smith.  In the front we have Lyle the hunchback, who we thought was Ms. Smith's henchman, but was really a spy working to stop her evil plans.

In reality we are Abby, Charlie, Teddi, Ashley, David, Michelle and Kes... who spent much of our summer putting this little production together.

Petunia's story mirrored much of Peter's story from the Bible. 

She met the professor whose influence inspired her to want to do something bigger with her life, something that would help to change the world.  Peter met Jesus, and his life was forever changed.

Petunia had to learn to over come her fears and trust the professor when invisible spiders got loose in the lab.  Peter found that when he kept his eyes on Jesus he could walk on water.

After it was discovered that Irving let the spiders loose in the lab, Tunia wanted revenge.  She had to learn that working for the professor meant doing the things that were important to him, rather than seeking revenge.  Peter had to learn that God's plan can before his own plans, when Jesus told him God's plan included Jesus dying on the cross, Peter tried to argue that it would never happen that way.

Petunia had to choose whether or not she would stick with the professor when things got really difficult, and Peter denied knowing Jesus, but was later given the opportunity to declare his love and allegiance to Him. We all have to decide what we think of Jesus!

Finally Ms. Smith had a chance to be forgiven for her bad deeds, and join the professors team.  Peter preached the good news of Jesus to a Roman solider, even though it was Roman soldiers who had nailed Jesus to the cross.

Thank you again cast for all your hard work and thank you Jenny F. for feeding us and helping us have so much fun along the way.

VBS Days 4&5

VBS ended on a high note. One that started in the fellowship hall at CBC in Brewer Maine and was quickly picked up by the angels in heaven. 

Thursday we shared the gospel, the death and resurrection of Jesus, through the eyes of Peter.  Friday we shared that God wants to use us to share his forgiveness with the world, and we got a chance to do just that. 

Long months of skit practice, a long week at camp and 5 long nights at VBS came together for one final night.  I have to admit, I didn't know what to expect as we practiced for our final two acts of the play.  I had forgotten most of my lines and I was hardly alone.  But with firm reliance on divine providence, we pressed on, and things came together well.  The teens did a great job, and the small group leaders must have done their job well, because one little heart was ready.

I blogged earlier in the week about the importance of obedience.  One of the adult helpers obeyed teh Holy Spirit, and told a friend about VBS.  That friend obeyed when she invited her son's friends from the neighborhood, that friend had a good time and brought his little sister back with him for the last 3 nights. I'm not sure if he knew it, but the Spirit used him as well.

All week we had been giving out buttons that reminded the kids of the big ideas we were trying to teach them.  After VBS was over and what I thought would be the final prayer had been said, Tiffany came up to me and asked for a Zapped button, the one button she had not already been given.  I told her that I would be happy to give her the button, and asked her if she had ever been zapped by God's power.  She said no as I pinned the button on to her lanyard. So I asked her if she'd like to be, and she got a BIG grin on her face and shook her head yes excitedly.  We found a quiet corner of the crowded room and I told her all about what Jesus had done for her.  She prayed, asking Jesus to forgive her for her sins, thanking Him for what he'd done on the cross, and asking God to give her the power to lead a life that would please Him.

When she was done, that big grin got even bigger.  And I joyfully announced to the whole room that Tiffany had just been Zapped!  She asked Jesus to forgive her sins, and He had.  I made sure we had her contact information and she took a Bible.  She wanted to know when she could come back, and was thrilled to find out that there was church every week.

A few moments later I saw her again and asked her how she felt. She replied "So happy I just can't keep it in!" 

I have to tell you that's how I feel too.

Thank you to everyone who participated.  Teens who served, especially those who spent so much of their summer practicing skits, your obedience to the Holy Spirit is part of the reason that Tiffany will spend eternity in Heaven.  Volunteers who invited friends and family, your willingness to spend your time letting God do something through you that was bigger than just you is part of the reason Tiffany will spend eternity in Heaven.  Small Group Leaders, you gave Jesus your time and talents, and let Him multiply them, and you are part of the reason Tiffany will spend eternity in Heaven.   As a leader I could not be more pleased.   To everyone who served, greeted, or prayed for VBS, thank you for doing what God put on your heart to do.  You are part of the Reason Tiffany will spend eternity in Heaven.

Lord, thank you for letting me be there to pray with this little life as You drew her to Yourself.  It is an privilege that gets more fun each time.  Jesus, thank you for willingly laying down your life for our sins, You are the reason that Tiffany will spend eternity in Heaven.  Help us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.

VBS Day 3

"What's important to Jesus should be important to me."

That was the big lesson for the kids last night.  It also bears repeating for the rest of us. 

I won't go into specifics, but several of us ran into situations where we needed this perspective last night. (My self included.)  Some of us couldn't get our minds off what was important to us.  Others made it through to what was important to Jesus.

It is a question of priorities, that hits us right where we live, and should impact the way we think about everything we do:  Is wearing this important to Jesus? Is buying that important to Jesus? Is flirting with him/her important to Jesus?  Is going there important to Jesus? Is playing my favorite sport or video game important to Jesus?  Is watching or listening to this what would be important to Jesus?  Is doing my homework what would be important to Jesus? 

If we really believe that "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them" (Eph 2:10) then we should start to see ourselves as tools in the master's hands, unique and beautiful, and designed for a purpose.  If something will help us accomplish that purpose, then we pursue it, heart, soul, mind and strength.  If it distracts from that purpose, we need to avoid it heart, soul, mind and strength.

Don't let the devil convince you that anything fun is 'dirt' and Jesus is the 'vacuum cleaner', just waiting to suck all the fun out of your life.  Remember Jesus said that He came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly. He went to parties, (even questionable parties at 'sinners' houses... *gasp!*) He celebrated, He had friends, He spent time alone on a mountain, and liked to go off into the woods.  He enjoyed life.  But He also kept His mission, His purpose, at the forefront of His thinking.  He knew that pleasure had to be kept in it's proper perspective, because too much of a good thing comes with a heavy price tag.  That is why He said "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet loose or forfeit his very soul?" 

Don't be so focused on what is fun or easy that you miss out on what is important and fulfilling.  Remember "What's important to Jesus should be important to me."

VBS Day 2

Well, turn out was way up last night, with our crowd of kids more than tripling.  While this was more like what we expected in terms of numbers, it did create a few logistical challenges that we didn't have to face on the 1st night.  We planned events that kids and parents could do together, but even though we had lots of extra kids, we only had one extra parent.  This made our family activity a bit chaotic to say the least!

We also got to do what was perhaps my favorite skit of the week, with the invisible spiders, and Petunia having to learn to keep her eyes on the professor to avoid panic.  It mirrored our Bible story of Peter walking on water, and his need to keep his eyes on Jesus.  When he got distracted by the difficult circumstances around him, he started to sink.  When we get distracted by difficult circumstances it is easy to loose our connection to the very thing we need most, God's power.

I find it more than a bit interesting that so far the events of our VBS have mirrored the lessons we are trying to teach.  Last night's infusion of a large number of energetic older kids made it difficult to focus on what we were trying to teach.  It would have been easy to focus on the clock, or just getting through the night, rather than focusing on the lesson we wanted the kids to learn.  It certainly served as a good reminder to me that "I need to keep depending on God's power".

I don't know about you, but I think that it is pretty cool that God is using the circumstances of each night of VBS to reinforce to us the lessons that we are trying to teach!

VBS Day 1

Part 2 of our Summer of Service began last night, this time we were joined by an equal number of adult volunteers for our annual vacation Bible school. 

Our church is trying something knew this year, inviting parents to participate with their kids.  And while we may not have had as many kids at vbs as we are used to having, we did get to use our talents for God's glory. 

Here is a challenge.  When the crowd is big it can be easy to feel like you are doing something big, but when the crowd is small it can make us wonder if all the time and effort is worthwhile.  But the question isn't "How big is the crowd?", the questions is "How big is my obedience?"

Last night we taught the kiddos that all we have to do to be Zapped with God's power is follow, obey, even if we don't know how it is all going to turn out. Peter didn't know how to be a fisher of men, all he knew was that he wanted to be a part of what Jesus had planned.  In our skit Petunia doesn't know how the professor is going to change the world, she just knows that she wants to be a part of that mission.  Both the Pete of the Bible and the Pete of our skit put all of their energy into the mission, without knowing how it was going to turn out.  In Peter's case, it would be years before his real mission started.  There were years of lessons to be learned before he would see anything 'big' happening through him.

Don't let the size of the mission distract or disappoint you. God may have work to do in us before He can work through us.

Don't let the size of the mission change the size of your obedience.  Be faithful in the small things, so that you will be ready to be faithful in the big ones!  Remember God wants to do something with you that's bigger than just you.  It's not just a catchy line we give the kids, it is an idea that can change the way we think about everything!

The Overweight Christian (Leader) | careynieuwhof.com

I love reading this guy's blog. Usually I ask why didn't I think of that, on rare occasions I can say "Why couldn't I have said it like that?" This post is one of these occasions. If you have been in or around our youth group you may remember the lesson we did after watching WALL-E. This is what I was trying to say, only in fewer, far more carefully chosen words.
The Overweight Christian (Leader) | careynieuwhof.com

River of Life - Photos

Here are some pictures from our week at River of Life.

15 of us spent the week with about 30 amazing kids.

 We played

We made crafts 

We Ate

(but some of us didn't eat our green beans...[have you ever met a "vegetarian" who won't eat his vegetables?])

We served

We swam 

 We made special little friends

Some of whom made an extra special impression on us 

 We made great memories

We shared the most important things we know.

And found a little time to kick back and relax in the evening 

It brought out the kid in all of us. 

Yes, we may have been just a bit tired and silly by the end of the week, but it was worth it.

Our memory verse for the week came from 2 Peter 1:3 "God's power has given us everything we need to lead a Godly life." 

We went to River of Life to serve, but we also went to learn.  We believe the words of Ephesians 2:10 "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them".  Each of us has to discover what those good works are, what unique thing God made just us to do.  This quest for discovery was the catalyst for our trip.

This week we learned that our own strength is not enough.  We get tired, we get grumpy, we don't like clean bathrooms after a long hot day, and it is hard to be patient with the child who had 4 pee accidents before lunch time. (one teen commented that a week working with 5-8 year olds was better motivation for abstinence than any sermon or lecture from a parent)  Lesson number one was clear: On our own, we just can't do it.  But God's power is sufficient.

Our big idea for the week, was that we need to be "Zapped" by God's power.  And as we read the next few verses in 2nd Peter during our devotions we learned that believing in Jesus is just the beginning.  "We must be diligent to add to our faith moral excellence, to moral excellence knowledge, to knowledge self control, to self control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." 

All of us were challenged by one of the steps found in these verses, for some it was a process of asking why would I even want moral excellence, others took big steps toward self control.  Some found the conviction that comes with Godliness, and sought forgiveness for wrongs done to others, and some learned first hand about spiritual warfare.  We all got a dose of what perseverance looks like, and found unconditional love from some amazing kids.

We needed sunlight for an activity that would reinforce what we were trying to teach the kids about God.  The day was cloudy, and more clouds and rain were in the forecast, but we saw God roll the clouds away at just the right time for our lesson.  This was one of many miracles we experienced over the week...

As we come back to real life, tired and missing our new little friends, I pray we will take the lessons with us.  That we will be honest, and transparent, about the joys and difficulties involved in walking the narrow road that leads to life.



River of Life

We are almost through our week at camp, and will be coming home with many stories to share.  Some stories will be funny to tell, but were not so funny to live through, like the time the littlest boy camper peed all over the cabin.  Other stories will be of great memories made with new little buddies.  Still others will be stories of growing up in Christ as we served him for a week.  There will be stories of memories made around the camp fire at night or in the pool, or of skits where we forgot lines... 

There will also be the story of a little girl who lost her big sister to sickness only weeks before camp, a little girl with big beautiful eyes who now clearly understands what Jesus did for us on the cross and the beauty of his coming back to life with all of the hope that offers.  Some stories will tug at our hearts and echo into eternity...

RIVER OF LIFE

Some of you may be interested to know where we will be serving this week.  Just google River Of Life Bible Camp for details on the camp. 

River Of Life - Summer of Service

Our Summer Service project starts in less than a week, here is a check list you should go through to prepare:

Before we leave ask yourself:
Did I fill out the camp application?
Have I turned in the camp application to Charlie?

What to Pack:
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Clean clothes (enough for 5 days)
Towel
Bathing suit (Keep it modest)
Sneakers or other good footwear (ie not just flip flops)
Bible
Notebook
Personal hygiene items (deodorant, shampoo, toothbrush etc)
Medications (to be turned into the camp nurse)

If you are in the skits:
Pack your script
Your costume
Any props you promised to bring

If you are helping with music:
Bring your CD with the songs

Be at the church by 3:00 on Sunday afternoon.
We will be back by 8:00 on Friday night.

Start praying for the kids we will be working with!

SKATING CANCELED - COOK OUT INSTEAD

Due to so many of our teens being away this week we have decided to cancel the roller skating that was scheduled for tomorrow night. 

Instead we will be going to the Flander's (Jenny & Ashley's) for a cook out and volleyball. Meet at the church at 5:30, Come hungry, we will be back by 9:00.  Call or Text 949-0665 with questions.

Wild Acadia

Pictures from the Ropes Course at Wild Acadia

Safety is important, so here we are practicing before climbing up. 

 Look Ma, no hands!

(check out the guy on the tires!)

No pressure, it's not like anyone is watching and taking pictures.

 The encouragement of friends was definitely needed on this obstacle.

 If you think it looks like one big spider web on stilts, you'd be about right, but that didn't stop these intrepid adventurers.

 Even the strongest among us found the course challenging.

 My favorite picture from the trip and a great mother daughter moment!

I thought it would be hard to find chaperons to volunteer for this gig, but I was wrong! 

Thanks ladies.

 After all that hard work you are rewarded with a trip on the zip line!

About a 100 foot trip 3 stories in the air over the park.

Just watch out for the tree!

We had a great discussion about TRUST in the van on the way back home.

One of the teens made an interesting observation.  She said her arms were tired, because, even though she knew she was harnessed up and couldn't fall, she still felt like she had to hold on for dear life.  Trusting God can be like that too.  We know He will never leave us or forsake us, but we still try to do things in our own strength.

Others told me that they just couldn't let go of their fear of heights so they quit early.  This happens in spiritual life too.  Trust is hard, and often we fall short when we let our fears get the best of us. (thankfully at Wild Acadia we had go-karts and mini-golf as a back up plan)

Another of the teens commented that he often forgot he was harnessed up because he couldn't feel the harness supporting Him.  Sometimes we may not feel God is there, but the truth is, we can always depend on Him.

One teen even pointed out that he had a really hard time trusting the harness, so he just let himself fall back, proving to himself that the harness could actually support him, after that, his fear disappeared and he had a blast!  According to Proverbs 3:5&6 That's what trust really is all about, letting go of our own experiences and what makes sense to us and simply relying on God.  

Gulf Hagas

Here are some pictures from this summer's hike

 Here we are before our epic* adventure, all ready to go! 

(they aren't tennis racquet's, they are bug zappers)

 A few from Screw Auger Falls.  Just about the coldes water you'll ever dive into!

Screw Auger Falls

Fording the Pleasant River required teamwork!

It rained just before we got to Buttermilk Falls, but just as we arrived the sun came out and it was BEAUTIFUL!  Since we were all soaked already everyone swam. 

By the end of the hike, we took any opportunity to rest.

Lessons from the hike: 

1. Be careful what you pray for, you just might get it. (thank you Rachel for the thunder storm)

2. God's timing is perfect.  Watching the storm roll out as we reached Buttermilk Falls was awesome.

3. You may learn some very strange things from Tony while playing would you rather.

4. You can do more than you thought you could, and doing it together made it worth while.

* I have been informed that it is no longer cool to use the word epic...

July Updates

Greetings all, just wanted to give you a few quick updates.

1: Please bring your camp application for the summer service project with you Saturday or Sunday, so that we can turn them in.

2: Ropes course this Saturday, Skating on Tuesday

3: August 11th's trip to the Cross's camp has been rescheduled to Tuesday the 21st.

4: The Rafting Trip is canceled, because 147.00 per person was just too much.  We will start planning for next year now.

Don't forget to check out the "Surrender Session 1" post and to do the Suggested Bible Studies this week.  It will do you good to be in the Word.

See you on Saturday.

Surrender Session 1 ~

Here are the personal Bible Study questions and scriptures from this week.  Remember the topic is "surrender" the big idea is being content with what we have in Christ.

Read one of the assignments, then answer the questions.  Repeat.

Assignment A: Matthew Chapter 6 verses 19-21 and verses 24-34
Assignment B: 1 Timothy Chapter 6 verses 6-10 and verses 17-19
Assignment C: Proverbs 30:7-9, Hebrews 13:5, and Phillippians 4:12-13

1: Sum up the main message of the verses you've read in a sentence of exactly 10 words.

2: How would you describe teh attitude toward possessions that's reflected in these verses? (Good, bad, frivolous, dangerous, irrelevant, powerful, necessary, etc?)

3: What do you think is the most challenging statement in those verses?

4: How would your life be different if you took this challenge? (Get specific and imaginative here.  What would this mean for your relationships, your schooling, your future plans, your spare time, your bank account, your driving habbits etc.?)

5: How do you think the original hearers/readers of this message felt about it?

Ropes course details

When/where:  Meet at 10 at the church.

Cost:  8th grade and under $18.00 ~ 9th grade and over $24.00 (if you need financial assistance contact Charlie personally by Friday)

Bring a bag lunch or $ for the snack bar.

Youth group will pay for mini golf. 

Have a parent or guardian drop you off to sign permission slip. No permission slip, no rope course.

We will be back by 4 pm.

Please note this is a correction from the Summer Schedule post.

Update

Hoping to get some pictures of our Gulf Hagas hike up soon.

Play practice is rolling along nicely.

New Believer's Bible Study is currently in Chapter 7 of John, though we are pausing to review by playing a kind of Jeopardy.

This Saturday we are hoping to do the ropes course in Trenton.  Cost is $25.00

Tuesday the 24th we are going roller skating 4-6 pm - Meet at great skates.

Call me with questions 207-949-0665

Correction.

Hike departure is at 11 not 9... I updated on page but not the other.  Sorry for the confusion.

Summer of Service

This summer we are going to be a part of two week long service projects.

RIVER OF LIFE CAMP:  July 29th-August 3rd, we will be headed up to River of Life Bible Camp in Maxwell Maine to run a Day Camp for Child Evangelism Fellowship.  The CBC Teens will be putting on the skits, teaching the Bible Stories, leading the small group conversations, playing games, organizing crafts, and doing all of the things that make camp a great experience for a group of 5 to 8 year olds.

We will leave Sunday the 29th at 3:00pm and will return on Friday the 3rd at approximately 8:00pm

In order to participate: each student will need to fill out an application, that includes basic information as well as information about when and how you came to know Jesus as your Savior.  You'll need to have a few adults in your life fill out a character referral form, and if you are over 14 you'll also need to fill out a consent form for a background check.

You can get all of the paperwork from Charlie and if you need help filing any of it out, don't hesitate to ask. (charlie@cbcbrewer.org or 207-949-0665)

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:  August 13th-17th, we will be doing the same skits lessons and activities for Vacation Bible School at CBC from 6-8pm each night.  Please invite any kids you know who are age 3 to grade 6, and we will teach them all about God's power to change their life.

Summer Event - FX

FX is short for Family Experience:

That means the whole family is invited.  It is a great time to bring your parents, and or your younger brothers and sisters to have some family fun.

The next one will be July 10th, from 6-7:30.  We'd love to have you join us and we'd really love a chance to get to know the people who've helped to make you who you are.

You'll laugh, you'll learn, and you'll make your family feel like they are really important to you. It's a win win win...

For more information, contact Charlie - 207-949-0665

Summer Event - YOUTH GROUP

For the summer, regular youth group meetings will happen from 6-8 on the following dates:


June 30th
July 17th
August 7th
August 21st 
and August 28th

Those who will be starting grades 7-12 this fall, as well as those about to become college freshmen, are welcome to join us.

If you haven't been before, here's a run down on what happens:
We start with an informal time to hang out and catch up with friends, maybe throw a football around or shoot hoops.  Afterwards, we'll all do some type of activity together to get to know each other a bit better, we will share some food, and some good conversation about God's word.  After a video or other type of discussion starter, we break into smaller groups to discuss the how we can apply what we learned to our lives.

Summer Event - HIKE

For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen , being understood through what He has made...

July 7^th we will meet at the church at 9:00 am, travel to beautiful Gulf Hagas in Brownville Maine, and hike into Buttermilk falls, swim, and hike out.  We should be back to the church around 8:00pm.  

You will need to bring: a bag lunch, snacks for the trail, plenty of water, a sturdy pair of shoes, and a towel.  If you want to swim, you should plan on wearing your swimwear under your hiking clothes, as there aren’t any changing rooms in the woods. 

If you are over 15 (not 15, but OVER 15), the forest company that manages the area charges $6.00 as an entrance fee, but trust me it will be worth it. You also may want to bring a few dollars for ice-cream or a soda on the way home.

For more information on this event you can contact Charlie Hodsdon 207-949-0665