Isaiah's Blog

"Life is meant to be lived with the fulfillment of the one need that defines all other means of fulfillment and the one love that defines all loves."

Thursday, March 30, 2006

YG 3/30

Currently listening: You Are My Joy by David Crowder Band Album: A Collision or 3+4=7 Youth Group tonight was great.  We played a game similar to the classic "Telephone" where one person starts with a saying, then they tell the next person, and on down the line until it gets so convulted it isn't even the same.  This time it was a picture that they had to draw on the next person's back.  A few of them were close, but some (like a cat turning into a light bulb) weren't even close at all.  Then we had a story called, "The Only Way to Kill a Vampire."  It is the last of the Jawdropper series that we've been doing, and the story is the best so far.  It relates to when the Pharisees were saying that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of the devil.  Interesting, it was.   Well, I better go help Sara make some bread. In His service, Isaiah

Friday, March 24, 2006

Youth Group 3/23


This youth group we played a game called "Tootsie Roll Sculpture" where several assistants chew up the tootsie rolls and one "artist" makes a sculpture from them. Needless to say it was messy and looked rather unappealing at times... But it was extremely fun, if not gross and disgusting.

Empty Wrappers
Originally uploaded by shadow5speed.

Then we had a story called, "Guess what I have in my garage?" about a young boy who's dad has given him a Porsche which he never ever drives, and just lets sit in the garage. This referenced to the Bible story of Matthew 25:14-30 where a master left 3 men in charge of some money. One had 5, another 2, and the final man was given 1. The man who had 5 made 5 more, the man who had 2 made 2 more, and the man who had 1 buried it. The point of the two stories is that we are given gifts by God (talents to do things, etc.) that if we don't use, we are wasting... just like the young man who never drove his Porsche. So, use what talents you have to further the kingdom of God!

Becky's Sculpture Finished
Originally uploaded by shadow5speed.

I've just finished writing the Sunday School lesson, so all I have left to do is to proofread it and make sure it flows (a.k.a. be better than last time!) We're doing an in-depth verse-by-verse study of James... and it has been dry as a bone the past few weeks, so I'm going to try to make it interesting (not that it isn't interesting, just that I've been doing it without illustrations to show the points). Well, one more day at Lights On, then we're off for a week of Spring Break, (yay!) I'll hopefully be able to get ahead for the coming weeks, and be prepared for the next week in advance... that way if an emergency comes up, I'll be ready still. Well, back to work, In His Service, Isaiah

Saturday, March 18, 2006

YG and thirsty cat


Thirsty?
Originally uploaded by shadow5speed.
So, you can see this picture... ehem. We were at a study at Todd and Melissa's house. I went to the restroom, and low and behold, there is their cat drinking out of the toilet... I had to take a picture with my Zire 72... oh man... that was funny.

Youth group a few days ago was great, we had 10 youth again (becoming an average #). We played a game called Hagoo where two people walk past each other trying not to laugh or smile while constantly maintaining eye contact (and enduring constant badgering from those around them). It was really fun. Then the lesson went well. I read a story about a cheerleader who found she had AIDS, and eventually was healed when a faith-healer named Joe told her to go wash in a dirty hotel room shower. Angie (the girl) ended up making millions of dollars off of selling her story, t-shirts (I was healed in room 115) and endorsments, but she never came back and thanked Joe. The lesson was about the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus, and how only one of them returned to give thanks and praise to him. The point was to give thanks to God, as he's the only one who can heal us...

Well, today we'll have some people from Ozark Christian College staying with us... so I better get to cleaning the house..

In His Service,

Isaiah

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Youth Group 3/9

Tonight we had quite a bit of fun at Youth Group. We played a little game on 3 of the youth. I had Sara take them upstairs so they could not hear the explanation, which was as follows: "It has recently been found that when a person is standing alone in front of a silent group of people, they revert back to the state they were in during their first kiss... In fact, they say the very thing that they said after their first kiss..." So, as the 3 youth came in one by one, the remaining youth in the room were utterly quiet (besides the laughter) and just stared back at the person up front, until they said something or did something. Keeping in mind that whatever they say was what they said or did after their first kiss... here were the reactions. The first person to go was Garrett - whose reaction was to just giggle and smile, and eventually do an impressive little turnaround circle. The second person to go was Daniel - whose reaction was to say, "Man, that's really creepy..." then, "Is that car supposed to do that?" The third person was Stephanie - whose reaction was (I kid you not), "What am I supposed to do?" "No, seriously?". After this, we played the Hand Game - pictured to the right... After the hand game, we went to lesson. We heard a story about two young ladies who were on a mission trip to help build some houses for needy people. One of the girls decided that she wanted to fix up the hotel room they were staying in, and by the end of the story had knocked out a wall of the hotel to make room for a kitchenette, repainted all of the walls, and nailed herself in when she put up a bookshelf. The point of the story came from Matthew 6:19-21 - "19"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)" The girl had laid up her treasure in a hotel room, which they weren't even staying at for longer than the weekend! But that's how we live our lives sometimes... we put too much stock in this life, when we're here for such a short time... So that's what the youth learned about this week. Now I'm off to work on the Sunday School lesson... In His Service, Isaiah

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

An Update of Sorts...

I thought that I had written an update on the ministry beforehand, but I must have forgotten to.  Last Thursday the youth room was completely full... and that is an awesome thing.  It is a very small room, but, hey, it does mean we're enjoying some growth.  The youth are growing spiritually, and it is just a great time in our ministry.  I'm excited to see where God takes us.   Today is my birthday, and I'm 24... wow.  Tonight we'll be having a birthday party (Sara's in charge of it, so I really don't know who's coming or what, but it will be fun).  I ordered a case for my Zire 72 for my birthday from PDAir.  Hopefully it arrives soon, as my old case smells like rotten synthetic leather.  Pewwwww... Well, that's all for now, I might update later. In Christ, Isaiah

Monday, March 06, 2006

It is hot!

We went from -20* dreary cold to 50* sunny days.  It's as if summer has come early.  When it was 30* last week... I was so used to the cold, I only wore a hooded sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up!  Crazy. As for the youth ministry, I'm excited.  We were full last week during youth group, and that was awesome.  For Sunday School, the youth decided that they want deeper curriculum... We'll be starting a study of James next Sunday.  It will mean more work for me, but I don't mind at all.  I'm excited for the ministry!! In His Service, Isaiah Written on my Zire 72