To Nooma or not to Nooma…

Anyone who teaches the Bible on a regular basis knows how difficult it is to consistently engage the heart, mind, and will of your hearers.  In recent years, churches and youth ministries across the country have turned to the creatively packaged “Nooma” videos produced by Rob Bell to help communicate more effectively to a younger generation.  Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, MI, offers an attractive combination of technical excellence and cultural savyness that are undeniably fresh and intriguing.  However, beneath the thin-rimmed glasses and hip quips lay some convoluted messages about Jesus, the gospel, and salvation.  For those of you unfamiliar with Rob Bell or considering using the Nooma videos, I strongly recommend reading Greg Gilbert’s nooma reviews and CJ Mahaney’s incredibly insightful summary on Bell.

A Tennessee fan in Guatemala??

For all you misguided UT fans out there, I thought you would appreciate the reach your program has.  The pastor’s son in Rabinal, Guatemala was wearing this when we visited their community today.  I laughed and knew I had to put it online…nobody would ever believe that!

Cooper Luke Shields

And now, in the blue corner, weighing in at 9lbs., 13oz., 21 in. long - Cooper Luke is here!!

This is just funny…

Dr. Jim Orrick, professor at Boyce College in Louisville, KY, attempts to merge theology and hip-hop with this hilarious song. Enjoy.

prayer & fasting instructions

If you are heading to our fall retreat this weekend at Highview, here is the information you will need to know beforehand.  You can also pick all of this information up at our Student Information table or at church on Wednesday night.

At the 2007 Prayer and Fasting Retreat, high school students and leaders will commit tofast for a 48-hour period. The fast will begin on Thursday, October 11, after lunch and willend on Saturday, October 13, at the retreat. We will use this time to look at how we candiscover God’s will for our lives and practical ways to focus in on what He wants for us. Spiritual preparation is important to an effective fast.

Ask God to reveal the sin in your life and then spend time confessing that’s in your life and asking God for forgiveness. Also, pray for God to use the fast as a time of personal revival. There are also some physical preparations that should be done. It is helpful to cut out eating large meals for at least 48 hours before you begin. Also, resist the temptation to eat that last “one big meal.” This will only hinder your physical condition for the duration of the fast. Lastly, cut sugar and caffeine out of your diet to ease thehunger pangs. 

When We Are Leaving October 12th, 2007 

Where We Are Leaving From Fegenbush Campus East Wing Foyer 

What Time We Are Leaving  Registration Begins 5:30 p.m. Students Leave 6:00 p.m. 

When We Are Getting Back October 13th, 2007 

Where We Are Returning To Fegenbush Campus East Wing Foyer 

What Time We Will Be Returning Students Return 3:00 p.m.

What To Bring Bible, notebook, pen, toiletries, towels, pillow, and bed sheets, linens or sleeping bag 

What Not To Bring Cell phones, electronic devices, music players,iPod, firearms, alcohol, drugs, or tobacco

Sons and Daughters

HSM students and leaders — don’t forget that this weekend we kick off our Fegenbush Sons of Issachar and Daughters of Sarah groups.  Guys will meet at the Toby’s house and will need to purchase an iGroup book ($20) from the Resource Center.  We will play cornhole and hang out afterwards.

Girls will meet at the Doig’s house and will need to read chapter 1 of “Hannah’s One Wish” before you come this Sunday night.  Both groups will meet from 6-7:30pm. 

Highview Student Senate

hsm students,

If you are interested in serving on Highview’s Student Senate for Fall 2007, click the link to the left that reads “Resources - Student Senate.”  It will direct you through the next steps to apply….everything is available online this year, so no paper!  Any student in grades 9-12 can apply. 

Great band resource…

I got to spend the week preaching at a camp in Wichita, KS.  Other than the depressing number of Jayhawk tshirts I observed throughout the week, I got to spend some time with Nick Thurmond.  You can check him out at www.nickthurmond.org.  He is an incredibly gifted worship leader, having been on staff leading a college worship service of 700+ students each week at Journey Church in Oklahoma.  His CD would be a great buy for a youth pastor, and he would be an excellent camp worship leader.  Just wanted to pass his name on to other youth pastors.

This is why we do missions…

I am still processing all that God did through our team in Mexico, and like any mission trip what you learn personally is different every time you go.  I have literally travelled all over the world and have seen a lot of cultures, but I think these photographs (people crawling on their knees oustide the Basilica in Mexico City, attempting to do penance to punish themselves for their sins) best illustrate what Paul says concerning his missionary zeal in Romans 10: “They have a zeal, but not according to knowledge.”  I hope that I never forget these images - that God burns them into my mind and on my heart forever…

The Last Night…

In a quick summary of yesterday, we went to a local park and began playing soccer and games with the kids.  By the time it was all finished, we had two groups sharing the gospel.  On one team, Taylor Hare shared her testimony, while Kalyn Ashley and Kara Kunsman shared the gospel message.  All did an excellent job!  On the other team, Trevor Miles did an incredible job sharing his testimony, while Adam Ringo shared the gospel message with a group of teenage soccer players.  They all really enjoyed this experience. 

This morning began with a visit to “PIB” (Primera Iglesia de Bautista) or “First Baptist Church.”  While the service and preaching were a little longer than we were used to (1 hour, 45 minutes!), it was still a great time of fellowship and we even got to share in the Lord’s Supper with them.  It was a great experience for our team.

Throughout the day, I had the chance to sit down one-on-one with most of our students.  It was a tremendous blessing for me to listen to their stories, experiences, and the different ways that God touched their hearts throughout the week.  Afterwards, we all went out to eat at “Los Arcos,” where we held a celebration/banquet with the entire team.  It was an amazing time of testimony and encouragement, and I can tell you there was hardly a dry eye in the restaurant as we talked about the friendships developed, ministry opportunities encountered, and just the movement of God through our group this week.  As a youth pastor, I could not have been more proud of a group of students for their attitudes, can-do spirit, and boldness in sharing their faith this week.  Among the things students noted that God did in their lives this week:

• They developed incredible relationships with the rest of the team - some of them felt connected for the first time.
• They overcame prejudices againts Mexicans in general - stereotypes we have of Mexicans as just “construction workers” or whatever are completely unbiblical…Jesus died for these people the same as us.
• I am open to giving my life to God for ministry service.
• I want to be more bold about sharing my faith with others back home - my group of friends needs to be more intentional about building relationships with lost people.
• I can’t wait to go on another mission trip!
• I never thought God could use me this way.

However, the best part of the night was when Estai, one of the Mexican students we had been witnessing to all week (not a Christian), stood up and addressed our students.  He said that from the moment we came, we had an “energy” and “light” about us that he had never seen before.  He told us how meeting us has changed his life completely, and how now for the first time in his life he feels like he needs to seek the truth about religion, God, etc.  Saying goodbye to these Mexicans tonight, our students wondered how they could be so touched by people they barely knew.  I think I know why - the gospel is incredibly powerful, and I am so thankful our students got to taste what it’s like to really feel a burden for the lost.  Thank you parents for allowing your students to come - please take the time to sit down with them, let them share their stories, and see for yourself how God moved in their hearts this week.  Thanks again for all of your prayers.  See you tomorrow night at 5:55pm!