Planning Ahead Games

After many years of youth ministry I have learned and played many games. I have also gotten a little lazy in picking the games. Maybe you can relate with me that as I am walking into youth group thinking what games we should play.  (Everything else is planned but just not the games) Recently i had a chance to I talk with a few of our youth and their parents they tell me how fun youth group is. I don't know how you set up your games but for us it is 1/3 of the time of youth group. (Announcements, worship, lesson and small group fill up the remaining 2/3. So I decided to go through our game books and websites and set up a game rotation so we don't just play dodge ball or kickball every week.

Feel free to take use and modify. We all do it, so here is my contribution. If you want a digital copy I will be willing to email it to you. Let me know by emailing me at Jonathancoats@me.com Here is our list:

The heavenly Draft

 

This last weekend was the NFL draft. I was glued to the NFL13 draft app. I watched when my team (49ners) drafted and as I was watching I kept thinking about how this is the big boys fantasy draft. I also was thinking about how the teams would try to try and find the best players to fit what the team needed. They would pick these players with high hopes of what the future will hold. These kids have high hopes and high expectations of how they will do in the NFL. My thoughts quickly went to the promise of Heaven. (Colossians 1:27); In heaven there will be no tears and no more death.  (Revelation 21:4)  As I am excited about my team and the potential this season; I get even more excited about the promise of my eternal home. One day I am excited to hear Jesus call my name for the Heavenly Draft. If you would like more information about heaven comment on this post. 

April-May Series'

I try to plan out messages in about a three year cycle. (But it isn't a law we have to stay with those ones.) With the tragic stuff going on in the world and with recent things that happened in our community; I had picked a few series, months ago, and it is a God thing how well they gel together.

Elevate/Launch (wednesday night jr/sr high)
We are going through the movie To Save a Life and talking about some of the issues that this movie brings up. I perposly picked to do this at the end of the year so our new jr highers were more mature and were able to discuss these tough topics. I ordered a book to go through but it didn't get here early enough so I used the website FCA bible studies, http://fcaresources.com/bible-study/save-life-i-feel-so-alone-study and then used Youtube to watch the videos to illustrate the scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtYjMt2CjNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrRMTl-uO_Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEZrvZZDbJg
Bonus one to put a lesson together is this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4zUNn9Vnvg

Impact (sunday morning first service)
To save time and energy we have decided to take the topic on Wednesday night and put a twist onto it. We are taking the topic that we learned and look at another scriptures with a different message. It has been a really good study for us to talk about in a deeper way. These topics are that important to talk about again. If you interested in knowing our questions email me at jonathancoats@me.com

Fusion (sunday morning second service)
We are going through the book of Habakkuk. Speaking on prayer and dealing with hard times. We took the series from bible.org and worked it out to be our own.
http://bible.org/seriespage/habakkuk

Grief and Relief

-->

 Just recently a student in our ministry lost their life. When dealing with a loss there is not a right or wrong response. As I looked at this student’s Facebook page there were many kind words about this student. There were also some others that didn’t know how to respond and they said stuff like “I didn’t know you but…” or “I wish I would have said something.” Then the polar opposite side of the spectrum some people get angry and don't understand. None of those responses were wrong. The problem comes when someone acts out inappropriately then not reconciling after going to far.

The creators of Facebook have made a network for people to voice how they are feeling. Now I know that some people share stuff on Facebook that are or can be inappropriate. Now in this case it is a great way for those who are morning to heal.

The cycle of grief (see link below to know the cycle) doesn’t discriminate for people that knew the person or not. So when someone posts about how they feel about the situation or they were close. To them they felt close. It isn’t our place to know how they feel or how well they knew the person. So when you see someone that is hurting from a loss be gracious to them. Support them where they are at in the grief process and identifying it will help you know how to respond better. If you don’t know how to help, the best way to help them is to listen, continue to be there for them and pray with them.

Avoid saying things like, "I know how you feel." or any cliche sayings that you have heard on a movie or read in a book. Also don't avoid them, and try to make them feel better. Grief is a natural process that if not gone through properly will result in more hurt and deep wounds. Being present and being available is a huge blessing for that person.You don't have to have the answers but you can point them to God. The creator of the universe wants to hear from them. In whatever stage they are in.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/diana/cycle.html

Good Friday 2013 Awaken

WOW, it has been along time since I have blogged! Well I have many things on my mind and wanted to get them off so I hope to spend some more time sharing thoughts that I have about life and ministry.

Here is our Good friday outline and messages this year. We had thought about what to do and the disciples falling asleep stood out to us. So feel free to take what you like and share it. The Childrens pastor and I team taught this.

Awaken

5pm worship team arrives

6:30pm service Starts

Key verses: Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14 Disciples falling asleep; Luke 22:40-45 asleep from exhaustion

Opening Song: Heart of Worship

Read Passage: Luke 22:39-46

AWAKEN

What causes you to fall asleep?

Intro: Are you tired? Do you need be awaken? Could you use a shot of Christ caffeine? (Odd# Bill, Even# Jon)

1)   Are you weary that your prayers are not being answered?

2)   Are you tired of picking up cheerios for the 100^th time?

3)   Are you exhausted of your expectations being unmet?

4)   Are you giving up on the fight of sin?

5)   Are you tired of your job demands?

6)   Are you weary of things not going right?

7)   Are you exhausted of worry for your kids?

8)   Are you tired of not having all the answers?

9)   Are you weary knowing that the mountain of laundry is only getting bigger?

10)                  Are you exhausted with dealing with your physical pain?

11)                  Are you burned out fighting your addiction?

12)                  Are you tired of the not being good enough?

13)                  Are you wearing of not measuring up to the task?

14)                  Are you tired being alone. 

Bill: Tonight we are going to look at a familiar passage of when the disciples struggled to stay awake and pray to God.  We invite you to case these questions on Christ and relax and breath in God.

Jon: Are you exhausted in Sorrow?

Luke 22:40-46

On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Question: Christ was exhausted. He fell down and prayed.  Are you exhausted from sorrow? Are you tired and sad of being sad and tired?

Medically when someone is tired their muscles are in the mode of shutting down, They are fatigued and they want to quit and the brain is still active but when you are able to shut your brain off you can sleep. The problem lies with sorrow you are constantly thinking about the loss. That might look like, a loss of a close friend, loss of a job or something important to you, loss of a loved one.  I don’t know your sorrow or your pain but we do know one that does. He knows even better than you do.

The dictionary definition of sorrow is: deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved

Are you overcome by Sorrow

We should pray that we don’t be overcome from Sorrow. Pray to realign yourself and allow God to be the place of importance.

The disciples were sorrowful. Christ had told them that the person that they had given up everything to follow was going to go to leave them.  He told Peter he was going to disown him three times. And That Judas was going to betray him.

They were in deep distress.

But when we let it become greater than God we are misaligned and because of that we can fall into temptation.

Pray so that you are not overcome from Sorrow.

We can give us our important stuff and he will take care of it for us. He will trade those sorrows for Joy of the lord.

Song: Trading my sorrows

Bill: Matthew says because there eyes were heavy… Physical?

            Spirit is willing but the body is weak

Mark 14:40

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

In our story of the garden we see that the disciple’s eyes were heavy so they fell asleep. Jesus said that their bodies were weak. They were tired they had a long day well really they had a long week. It started out high with the triumphal entry then constant coming and going then this low of Christ talking about leaving them.

In Mark 14:27-31

²⁷ “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’^[a]

²⁸ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

³⁰ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice^[b] you yourself will disown me three times.”

³¹ But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

Jesus had been talking about how he would have to die. The disciples all expressed how they were going to hold fast to Jesus even to death. The truth is they were going to do this on their own power and by falling asleep they were showing their lack of dependence.

We can imagine how they must have felt. It seemed like they had so much to do with an uncertain future.

How often do you feel like all that is before you is more than you can handle and your future is uncertain?

You have work, family, church and any other commitments that the you have taken on and it seems like there isn’t enough time in the day. You feel like you are doing nothing well and you carry around guilt and you just tired.

Your friends say to you, “are you ok?” and you say I’m just tired.

If you are feeling this way chances are you have taken everything upon yourself.

The disciples’ statement in verse 31 reeks of self-sufficiency. There is now doubt that they earnestly desired to not fall away but on their own power they would not only fall away but they couldn’t even stay awake.

Their purpose in coming to the garden was to pray but they had given up on prayer and fell asleep.

Jesus told them to pray so they wouldn’t fall into temptation but they went to sleep instead.

Much of the time we step out on our own and are only overwhelmed instead of coming before God for guidance and strength.

Pray so that you are not overcome false expectations.

Let tonight be the night when you say I going to stop depending on myself and start depending upon God.

Song : Lead me to the Cross

Jon: Are you exhausted from sin? Boardom?

            Be careful not to fall into temptation.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:45-46

Watch and Pray

In our battle of Sin. We often can just want to toss in the towel and give up. We can so easily get bogged down by the fight against sin.

1 Peter 5:8-9 says

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Are you clear minded?

Pray so you are not overcome with Sin.

During the next few songs if you want someone to pray with someone you can come on up to the front. You might not see someone up here but they are. They would love to pray for you. They will just ask, “how can I pray for you” You don’t need to be a member of our church if you want to come up for prayer.

Closing song:

            Nothing but the blood

            10,000 reasons

            By His Wounds

 Bill: We leave you with this verse:

Matt 11:28-29

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 When we are overwhelmed by the things of this world we are taking on the yoke of this world but Jesus said to come to Him and in coming we put down the burdens of this world and take up His much lighter yoke.

I encourage you tonight to come to Christ tonight and place your sin. Your sorrow. And your stuff at his feet and walk free under his yoke of prayer and dependence upon Him.

Good Day

Today is Tuesday. Back home it is 10:56pm on Monday. It has been so hard to call or skype to catch Cass back home. The timing of our breaks have not worked out very well. L

Yesterday we had a full day. In the morning we went to worship as usual. Then the youth and I did our study together. Then we had lunch and right afterward we jumped into a van to go to the beach. The Springfield has more than one resort. So we got a free ride. The beach was covered with Shells. We filled two freezer bags full of shells. We walked down the beach to the Jet Ski rental. Which is a place on the beach with jet ski’s. Not much of a rental place. So for ½ hour we paid 1200 Baht. So we rented two and did an hour each. But I talked the guy down from 4800 to 4100. In US dollars that is $132. Which was a scholarship given by someone from the united states. The jet skis were really fun. The water is harder to drive in with the waves and stuff. But totally worth the money. On the beach were people selling skirts and massages. I was really interested in a massage but didn’t have the time. (I will look into it when we go to town today) We took the shuttle back to our hotel and then swam in the pool until dinner. After dinner the youth wanted to watch a movie, so we went to my room and watched the Terminal. With Tom hanks. Then at 8:45pm they wanted to go out and play gray Wolf. (Or Ghosts in the grave yard) So after all that going going going we called it quits at 10pm. We all were beat, but some great connecting was made between the youth. These kids are in need of these connections for support. Many of them are homeschooled in a country that they don’t have a lot of friends so this is the only interaction with each other that they get all year. This has been an amazing opportunity. And Again I am greatful to Warner Alliance Church for allowing me to serve here. I will be honest we are not suffering here. It is beautiful and warm.

In about an hour we are going to town and meet up with the U's. They are staying at a hotel near where we are. Since it is Chinese new year they are here for a conference as well. Which new year is a month long. Now that is some serious party.

Thanks for your paryers of health and safety. We are doing really well. A youth cut her leg on the pool yesterday and another one went down the slide head first into the pool and cut his head open and needed 7 stitches. Other than that a few bumps and bruises and little colds. But everything else is going awesome.

The youth are responding well to the work of God and to that I praise Him!

Spring field first 24 hours

We have made it to the Spring field resort. The house that Jack built. (Jack Nickerson) It is a resort that has a golf coarse. It is a really beautiful place. Palm trees everywhere, geckos everywhere and other than the workers here you would never expect that you were in Thailand. It is not really what I would imagine a missions trip would be like.

The kids group is meeting at the Pavillion and the youth are meeting in Bill and I’s suite. The children are learning “Going deep with God.” The youth are doing a study called “Main Event.” Spending time with God should be our main event. The youth are awesome.

FYI bill slept and he is now doing fine. Thanks for your prayer.

I am really enjoying the International workers. Since I have gone to Simpson I learned about these guys and I see them as Heroes of the faith. That they would be willing to give up the comforts of home to go and serve. I really noticed that tonight with the talent show tonight and the videos that were sent from the States. Of Ice cream and crunch bars.

I have been enjoying the youth. We have laughed. We have spent heart-felt stories with each other. And we have played together. The kids are fun and very knowledgeable. My heart goes out to these youth. They are in a living situation that they didn’t choose. (I know that no kid has a say) but these kids are in boarding schools and international schools. I know that they don’t know the difference. So what I am saying is I really look up to these kids. They have not complained or fussed over where they live.

Speaking of candy. A dent has been made in the candy. Maybe 1/10 has been eaten so far. J Warner, I am so proud to say I serve there with the support that came in with the candy. I would love to maybe sponsor the youth for next year to do an outing together.

Tomorrow after our bible study and extended quiet time we will be going to the beach. A person has given scholarship for the youth to go on this outing. The kids are opening up with each other and trips like this help them break the ice and relate with each other. (Pictures coming soon.)

Cruising the mall (but not at the same time)

Today we set off and went down to river. (not sure which one) and took a river boat cruise. We embarked on a cruise and it was a blast. We were able to create our own cruise experience. AKA not go to the Snake Farm. PTL! It was interesting and fun. We started off going down the river and connecting up to a lock system. (like the panama canal) At this point we were in the lock with a bunch of other boats. We were next to a boat with Europeans being europeans at the beach. If you know what I mean. Awkward! Didn't they know this was Asia? They must have taken a wrong turn at Switzerland. Then we went to the floating market. Which didn't turn out to be as neat as I had imagined. But it is supposed to be really neat on saturdays. (more boats). But one lady came up to our boat with tons of souvenirs and sharon was interested in. We passed nice houses and houses that could be swapped as ones in mexico or Africa. We stopped briefly at a catfish spanning place that a man wanted us to buy food for the fish to have good luck. We told him "We don't need no stinkin luck." and drove off. Then we stopped and got out of the boat at a Buddhist temple that we could climb. The steps being anywhere from a 12" to 18" a step and very steep. But great views and the temple was very ornate. We finished our tour by a view of the Grand Palace (Buddist Temple) from the water. Not as impressive as being in there. Sights were awesome but the water was not so awesome! Trash everywhere. We did our best to not let the water get in our mouth. It was hard with the mist that came up when we would hit a wake.

After that the girls wanted to do more shopping at the MBK (mall of bangkok) but bill was not feeling well. Not adjusting to the time change easily. :( So sharon and I took him back to the hotel and then went to meet up with the rest of our group to go to the Silk making factory/farm. But the food at the food court and the shopping sucked us in at the MBK. At the Gaming store I asked about Wii games and they said they were 100 Baht. (about $3.50 US) I thought that was great. I payed the man and he told me to come back in 10 minutes. So we left and I didn't understand why he couldn't just give it for me. Then I thought that he had it in the back. Well I came back and yes it was too good to be true. He gave me a cd that didn't look like a normal version of a wii game. OOPS! I didn't know. Huh wonder if it works. :

Another good day!

Tomorrow we take off at 9 to travel to the main objection of this trip. 2 hours by bus. And we will meet up with our new friends.

I haven't gotten a massage yet. But where we are going has one. Totally going to look into that.

We made it to the land of Thai

We made it to Bangkok!

Today we woke up at the normal time (here) and ate breakfast at our hotel. It was pancakes, cereal with rice milk, fruit, guava juice, orange juice, and two different kinds of stirfry stuff. I tryed it all one of the stir frys was unbeleiveably Hot! I spit that out. It also had tofu.

We went to the Emeral Palace today. That is a depressing place. Hundreds of people coming to worship an idol made by man. Dont get me wrong it is beautiful but not a good place. No hope. The God shaped hole is not being filled.

Then we took the taxi to the MBK (Also known as a 8 story mall) Where you can barder for anything on the shelf. I got some screamin deals. Also got a nintendo Wii game that i thought was too good to be true. And i was write. Mario Kart for $3 US! can you say Pirated? oops.

Then on the way home the girls wanted to take the train and then a TukTuk. They hadn't been on either. The train was packed. I think school just got out or work. wall to wall people from the time we got on till we got off. Then the TukTuk is a motor cycle with a cart welded on the back for passengers. That doesn't sound bad. But then they weave in and out of traffic. And at times drive 6" to a foot" away from other vehicles going in either direction. Oh and BTW they drive on the left side not the right. And to cross the street you just start walking out into the street. The drivers are wild. But they take the blame if they hit you. Which we are cautious but still have to get places. NYC was a good breaking in for me to cross here. Collen from Bellveiw and in our group said crossing is like real life Frogger.

We bought a sim card today but it is not working. So I can't call my wife. GRRRRR!!! We might need to go buy another converter.

Almost on the sleeping schedule because of staying up so late on the way here and then sleeping till 7 am.

Bill is not been able to get his stomach onto the time zone yet. Or it is the Thai food. So far no major incidents. it is just upset.He just hasn't been hungry.

Everyone is getting along great. Tom and Collen from bellveiw are hilarious.

A theme today was "theres a story" We looked at people and could see the hurt or the pain that was in their lives. One older man was with a 4ish year old girl. A woman had a distinct hand print across her face. A non-attractive american man was with a woman that was out of his league and didn't wear enough clothes. This place (like many) needs Jesus!

Well this is random. I am getting sleepy

Tomorrow a little organizing and talking though what we will be doing for the conference. We are going to try to go to the floating market too. It is a market the venders sell out of canoes. Like fruit and veggies. Crazy huh.

New adventure

Tomorrow (Jan 25th) I will be embarking on a missions trip to Thailand. I will be meeting up with some other pastors and volunteers to put on a conference for missionaries from China. It is weird how it is cheeper for 10 or so of us to travel across the ocean to another country to lead this trip. But strangely it is. I will be leading a group of 15 youth in a conference/camp for 5 days. Our theme will be Main Event. Talking about the importance of Quiet times and giving them some ideas/tools to liven up the most important time of the day, the "Main event" of our day. We will be studying together and spending time with our Lord. These students have grown up in the church and are very intelligent when it comes to the bible. I am excited to learn with them. But like all of us we need to take our head knowledge and put it into action. We may know much of the bible but without a relationship with our creator we are just like the Pharisees. So I will be back in the states Feb 5th 11am back in lewiston. I am going to try to update this blog but may get a little busy. I hope to share what we did (as in quiet time ideas) on future blogs.

My Workout/eating regiment

Yesterday i ran my last run before the half marathon on saturday. This has been a 7 months of running. I am kinda surprised with myself that I am writing this Bolg. Cuz I am not the work out type. But since March I have been going hard core and it has lead to weight loss. I have lost 25 lbs. I didn't know i had to loose. I did it not for the weight loss but to get in shape so I can be able to run around with my child on the way. Here is what I am doing.

I Eat plenty of veggies and fruit.
Drink lots of water. (one website said take your weight divide it by two and then that is the amount of ounces you should drink)
Stay away from Diet drinks. The body has a hard time breaking down nutri-sweet. Not that it works harder to do that but it just can't. So regular soda is better. But not alot.
I try to keep my liver clean. The liver is the place that breaks down fat and filters everything out. But Nutri-sweet and too much sugar clogs that up. So the body has to do something with it so it goes to the limphnodes. Then they get big. For guys in there gut and girls hips, tummy, and breast.
A heath guru told me that it takes 32 8ounce cups of water to neutralize a 8 ounce can of soda. To clear it out of my system.
I stay away from alcohol as well.

So then to workout i do hard core cardio. I run 3-4 times a week. I also go to the cycling class at the gym. But cardio is what helps loose weight and your diet.

If I can do it you can too. As the wise words of a little movie we like to call Happy Gilmore "YOU CAN DO IT!"

I AM NOT A TRAINER! I DO NOT CLAIM TO BE! THIS IS JUST WHAT I DID.

Favorite song

Do you have a favorite song? Why is it your favorite? What are some of the emotions that inspire you when you hear it? When you hear it does it remind you of the first place you heard it? Do you like the beats or the lyrics?

Well my favorite song right now is Beautiful Things by Gungor. It is a worship song that I heard for the first time at LIFE this summer. It makes me feel energized, Loved, comforted and want to tell others about what I believe. The lyrics are my favorite but it has a sweet drum beat. That is really like a BEAT!

Beautiful Things

By Gungor

All this pain

I wonder if I’ll ever find my way

I wonder if I my life could really change at all

All this earth

Could all that is lost ever be found

Could a garden come up from this ground at all

Chorus:

D

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

Verse 2 (same as verse 1)

All around

Life is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found in You

Chorus 2:

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

Bridge:You make me new, You are making me new

What is Old is new

As youth group was over one of our girls named cynthia was talking to Olivia and they were talking about music. When all of a sudden Olivia named something that Cynthia like and she said "That is DAnk!" loud enough for everyone to turn and look at what they were doing.

Which caused me to start thinking about how words and trends change but they also come back.

I loved saying "cool," "Awesome," and "Rad." My parents often said that they used words like this when they were my age or even younger.

Things might change but they often are re-newed. So someday my kids will be saying "Sick," "Bad," and "Stoked." And they will think that it is new.

I find it funny. Like people wearing 80's clothes again.

Face your fears day

As I was trying to wake up this morning because it is SO SO SO dark out when I normally wake up, i hit snooze a few times. Well one of the times that I hit snooze the radio was going over events for the day or something like that. I heard that it was face your fears day. Now being put on the spot to go through with this today is a tough one at least for me. You will see why. Facing fears is often times a drummed up thing in our head. It can be something that we dislike a lot and the in between times when we face it we add to the fear. So it ends up being more than it really is.

I don't feel like I have a lot of fears but I do have a few. #1 fear is Snakes. I hate them they creap me out. And I would be willing to face that one today but don't know anyone with a snake. #2 fear failing. Now this is something that I can't go ahead a fail at something and get over it. This is a constant thing that I have to work on. #3 fear is death. Not the after life, not the lead up to it, but more of the moment of death and the pain of it. This is also something that I can go ahead and face at least today. I can surrender it to God though.

So face your fears today. If you know of someone that has a snake call me and I will go over and hold it.

My lovely wife for my 50th blog

Today my wife came home from church and she got a newspaper to get her coupons. She spent the next hour finding coupons for items that we buy and going onto websites to get the best deals. I watched a little football and then we went out on a, what I call "sticking it to the man" adventure. At rite aid our total was $30 then after all the coupons we spent about $6.26 but we got $4 back in rebates. I call her the coupon Ninja. She is saving us so much money. She is storing up so we are stocked up after we have a baby. Cassie is the Prov 31 woman. She is stocking up so when it snows or we have flood or some kind of war. She is doing a great job and I am so proud of her. This coupon thing is her new hobby. Saving money, so I can spend the money. HAHA! Since my hobby is snowboarding and running. Neither of them save us any money. I really am excited about the things she is getting. Diapers, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, can goods, cereal, and gum. For free or significantly discounted.

So that is not the only way she is a prov 31 woman. I personally think she is the modern day Prov 31 woman. Taking care of the money, making sure that the family is taken care of, she is strong because heavy lifting around the house, she is taken care of the meals time after time and she is and she is example to all that she meets. She is awesome! And I wouldn't be the man that I am without her! I Love her

pumpkin patch

Today Cas and I went to the pumpkin patch with our friends Will and Julia. This has become a tradition for the 4 of us. (3rd year). We go to the wilson banner ranch and go out to the pumpkin patch. We tromps around in the field looking for the perfect pumpkin. There is something about doing this. We enjoy the fresh air, the natural feeling of going out into the field to get our pumpkin. Maybe it is because we all grew up watching the old charlie brown movie "The great Pumpkin."

This year Cas and I found our biggest pumpkin that we have ever made. It is bigger than a basketball and great lines and great form. As we were walking out in the patch we were talking about next year walking around with a little one with us. That we will be taking pictures and enjoying the time together. Our smiles got bigger and our hearts were warm.

To finish off the event we go get cider and then go back to our house were we have White chicken chilly and play games. (This year Catch phrase) It was a good day.

die for

A few days ago I was talking to a friend of mine and he said I love "so in so" i would die for that guy. I was like really. I knew that they were friends but didn't think that He thought so seriously about that person. I said if he was going to be tortured you would ask to take his place. He said yes.

I was thinking wow. That is a serious commitment to someone.

So I was thinking who is on my list of my die for list.

My Wife,

My sister,

My parents,

My mother in law,

My best friend,

our Youth leaders,

Any kid that is in trouble that is part of youth ministry.

That is a pretty extensive list. I never have thought about it until someone said that.

Mowing

Every once in a while I like to accomplish something that is quick, mindless and the results are immediate. Mowing is that for me. I like to get out and mow the lawn. It is a way that I can sort my thoughts of all the things that are going on. I also like how when I am mowing and I am done the grass looks great and it is done for that week.

My grass has heard the gospel story many times, It knows almost every message that I have preached and it nows my thought patterns. Second only to Paul's grass. If you drive by and see me me preaching to my grass... I am not crazy... I think... um... ok, maybe I am.

What do you do to sort your thoughts? Drive? Mow? walk? Run? take a shower?

Running

So as many of you know I have been training for a half marathon on Oct 16th. I run different lengths each day. Thursdays are my long run day. Well last Thursday I was running and I had a bad urge to go to the bathroom. I thought that it would go away or pass. I passed one bathroom, thought that it would go away. Then I passed another one but it would be fine. Then a few miles later I really, REALLY needed to go. (#2) It got to the point that I needed to find a place ASAP! But I kept thinking to myself that I needed to do the paperwork. Then I came up with what I thought was a great idea. So I then found a safe place on the side of the path that I could relieve myself. That was safe and secluded. I did my business and used my boxers for the clean up. No one came by and not one saw me. I left them there and got back to my run. Later I went back and picked up my undergarments. So that way I wouldn't liter. I feel like I should come up with a moral of the story... so here goes. "When the going gets tough...Don't be tough just Go."

OREO TRINITY

For the third year with the Jr high students we are talking about Christianity and Chocolate. Now don't get me wrong. God is not Chocolate and Chocolate is not Jesus. But we are looking at it as a illustration. To help understand something better. Jesus often times used Illustrations to help understand things. Like the Salt of the earth, or Light of the world, and vine and the batches.

Well I am not Jesus (By far) but i am trying to use a way that Jr high students can grasp a difficult concept of the Trinity.

So I came up with a Oreo.

How many parts are there of a Oreo?

Do all of them make up an Oreo?

If one part was gone would it still make up an Oreo?

I see it as Three parts

Cookie outside

frosting inside

The other cookie outside

The Trinity

Jesus is the outside cookie

Holy Spirit is the cream

God is the Cookie that is attached to the cream

The bible say in John 14 about who Jesus is.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6:-7

Jesus explained that if someone has seen Him they have seen the father as well. So they look a like similar to the outsides of a Oreo Cookie.

Part of Jesus' role was to come down and make Himself nothing to die for the sins of the world.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— 
even death on a cross! Phil 2: 5-8

Since The Father and The Son are the outside cookies all that is left is the cream filling which is The Holy Spirit. Some call him the Holy Ghost. (ghosts on the cartoon are white) But He is also called counselor or helper.

Matthew 3:13-17 talks about the three parts of the trinity and how the Holy Spirit came down like a dove.

The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

What does that mean for us?

God that sympathizes with our needs (Heb 4:15)

Someone to intercede to the father (Rom 8:26)

Loves us to send his son (John 3:16)

So back to the original questions:

How many parts are there of a Oreo? 3

Do all of them make up an Oreo? Yes

If one part was gone would it still make up an Oreo? No

One God in Three persons. One Oreo in Three parts.