Noah Movie Official Big Game Spot

Church Studies ....

Recently we concluded a 4 week min-sermon series called "Signs of Life" based on Road signs of Stop, One Way, Yield, and Walk.

Currently in Bible school we are studying "Things every Christian Ought to know." (Basics of the Faith)

Starting Feb 2 We will be having a sermon series entitled: Be Diligent ..A study through the Gospel of Mark.

Wednesday nites we are going through 1 and 2 Thessalonians and the small group on Thursdays is studying the book of Job. Be Patient.


What are you currently studying in the Word?

NBC12 Snow Day (+playlist)

ICOM 2014 and Beyond

Last Friday I was in Yorktown, VA at Northside Christian to listen to Mr. David Butts of Harvest Prayer Ministries for the upcoming ICOM (Old National Missionary Convention ...now International Conference on Missions) In 2014 it will be in Columbus, Oh and in 2015 Richmond, VA.

During his lunch talk, David Butts talked about lighting the fire of prayer among our churches and unending prayer for the next 10 yrs. He gave the example put forth for the ICOM for the next few yrs as an ACTS model. Not the "Acts in prayer we think of in Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication" but rather the theme what reflect acts of ASK the Almighty; Churches to be planted; Tools to be used; Service to be done.

In 2014 the theme of Vertical was presented. We do a lot of horizontal work of outreach but that of vertical of our relationship with the Father.

There were some great quotes that David reminded us of in our Restoration Movement heritage.

"If we claim to be people of the Book, we need to be people of prayer."
"Until we become a praying church; we cannot be a New Testament Church."
"One of the things that mark American Christianity is that we don't pray."

I'm excited about 2014 and beyond. In 2015 the theme is on Church planting around the world. Jim Tune is the president. One of the goals is to have 7 churches from out of that yr to be planted around the world. A great vision. A great goal ...that only our great God can get the glory to achieve. Be praying for these endeavors.

Saskatchewan

Dylan's Couch - Episode Four - The iPod

Elf on the Shelf - Will it Blend?

14 Things that Youth Ministry had up to 2000

Here are some items that Youth Ministry had in the 20th Century and some churches still might be doing with in the 21st Century (Though some might wonder why? they are doing some of these and why some ever went away?)

14. Flannel Boards. The ole Noah and the Ark Stick type figures on a flannel board.

13. Air bands/ Skits of the latest "Christian Song" How many times was Carman's Champion played out around camps/ Retreats. or dancing to DC' talks Jesus Freak?

12. Gross Games and icebreakers. The ole Campus Life/ Youth for Christ parachurch influence ...from "pass the toothbrush" to the chocolate pudding in a diaper ....

11. Scarey Animation characters. Davey and Goliath to Psalty to talking Veggies and Penguins.

10. Christian Accessories .... from the WWJD bracelet to jewelry to Bible covers.

9. Christian Rip-off T-shirts ... From "Jesus the Real thing" to Dew it .... to today's happy, happy, happy

8. Glorified Babysitting - youth ministry was seen through some churches not as real "ministry" but an opportunity to just "Watch" our kids and have activities just for them and the "Youth Minister" not seen as a real minister but a stepping stone until they grew up to become a Real "Minister" (Which is far from the truth)

7. Youth Ministry was seen from that of Nursery through Teens.

6. You knew how to make acronyms work. Youth Ministry was already cutting edge in Text and Twitter before it became popular. We knew things like YFC, YL, BYOB (Bring your own Bible), YS, and any other words, names for our groups to make it fit into some cool acronym. Just look at some of the names of youth groups http://www.youthpastor.com/names/#.UtBrK9JdWuk

5. Sword Drills. You can get to any passage in less than 30 seconds.

4. Scare Tactics. Hell Houses. Left Behind movies. Any Thief in the Night ...scaring the H "e" double hockey sticks out of you ..... I remember being scared and seeing some impactful movie from or was it through a Billy Graham crusade that was in Hamilton. I believe the movie was "Caught."

3. Christian concerts. Sheila Walsh, Allies, Larry Norman, DC Talk, Audio A., Christian coffee houses. (Mustard Seed Jam House anyone?) ... all good things but have they been mere entertainment? Run their course?

2. Altar Calls. Asking kids to receive Jesus, and saying "I see that hand" Seems we're getting away from this (which is a good thing in some ways to offering an invitation, highlighting discipleship and counting the cost rather than a just ask Jesus into your heart)

1. Christian items. We've made Christianity and the word Christian go from a noun to that of an adjective. We say things are "Christian" rather than people. SAD in a lot of ways. Not that these tools are bad but we have Christian toothpaste, bandages, action figures, made Christianity into this Big industry rather than transforming the World God has called us to be.


what things would you add or take away?

Matthew West- Do Something (Lyrics)

Hockey Has A Sense Of Humour...

Tim Hortons Good 'Ol Hockey Game featuring Sidney Crosby