Special Need

A young lady came into the office today and said she is in need of some clothing. Medium sized tops and size 3-5 clothes. Please comment and let me know if you can help with this need.

Caption of the week

How would you caption this photo? Leave a comment and let us know.

Challenging your faith

For the past two years I have been attending classes at MUW in an attempt to finish up a psychology degree i started to pursue in 1994. I have two classes left to take that deal with the degree I seek and i have several left that deal with nothing I'm interested in. I'm sure they will serve to make me more well rounded (although Sara and Ginger seem to be doing a fairly good job of that). This semester I taking a world civilization class. In involves a lot of writing and even more reading. At least it's not algebra (took me three tries to pass that).
Being a student at a christian schools and universities all my life, I never realized how hard teachers push for any explanation other than God's power to tell people how we came to be. I was angered the first day of class when our teacher told us we would not be using the old an obsolete a.d. and b.c. terms to describe time periods since they were not politically correct. We now use b.c.e (before common era) and c.e. (common era). Just another attempt to sweep over the tracks left by our savior Jesus Christ.It makes me mad to think that soon, we as christians may be the ones fighting for equality in a nation founded on the belief that God led us here.
Just a few days ago, I spoke in my office with a member of our youth group who had been approached by the principle of his school and told not to talk to people about church (the rule is for faculty not students) because God was not to be talked about on school grounds. He has since discovered that there is a christian club on his campus, but said that the flyer is so small that no one would ever really notice it.
How do we respond to this? I'd like to hear from you. leave a comment and let us know if you have experienced anything like this or if you have a suggestion.

Play it again sam

Congratulations to Matthew Chaffin, Matthew Ferguson, and Logan Ferguson who have all received roles in the upcoming YMCA play "The Secret Garden". We will be looking forward to seeing you perform soon.

Prayer Request

Jared clark called yesterday with a request that we pray for the family of his close friends (also carrying the last name clark). The husband was killed when a tractor trailer blew its tire and ran over him. A horrible loss as you can imagine. please lift up this family in your prayers.

Do Hard Things

The latest adventure our guy's Bible study group is embarking on is a book that challenges us to rise above the standards and expectations our society has for teenagers. The book has also challenged me. We have been taking it a chapter at a time and it is a real eye opener. The word teenager is only 70 years old. It was a term created during the industrial revolution after the inception of child labor laws and requirements that children attend twelve years of school.
If I were to ask you what the teen years were meant for chances are you would think of it as the time to sow wild oats and make mistakes. Why? Are we really missing out by claiming the responsibility that is rightfully ours? What did the twelve year olds of the 1800s have that allowed them to do great things that we don't have today? How bright can we really shine during the teen years? Do you need a challenge? Come to guys Bible study and find the answers.

Hunter Johnson for Three

Friday night Jaden and I got to go watch Hunter Johnson and the Victory Eagles Smash Bessemer (can't remember their mascot) in B -ball. Victory Christian students and parents really turn out for their team. The atmosphere was electric in the standing room only crowd. I must say that the girl's game was crazy aggressive. I expected a brawl to break out at any moment, And that was just the mothers. Hunter played well. He constantly moved to get opened and didn't just stand around waiting for the game to come to him. We are really blessed to have him as part of our youth group. I'm looking forward Seeing how he likes his first winterfest. Good Game Hunter

Caption of the week

What do you think JP is thinking as she blasts down the slip n slide on our white water rafting retreat? Leave a comment and caption this photo

Happy Birthday Matthew Chaffin

Today is matthew's birthday! Wish him a happy one here.

A question for the week

I thought it would be cool for us to have a question posted here for discussion. Any question that you guys have and will let me know about would be great. Feel free to be anonymous or not on this section. anything that is submitted that is just to be silly will not be posted. This is a place for you to throw out some of those things you have wanted to ask and just haven't. so submit some questions and we'll work together to find an answer.

First Question
Is copying someone's homework really wrong? Why or why not?

Tyler's Gradfather

Just wanted you all to keep Tyler White in your prayers throughout the week. His Grandfather passed away last night. Grandaddys are special people. Feel free to leave Tyler a comment here.

Caption of the week

Comment on this Photo and give us the caption that should go in the bubble beside Nathan's head

Never Been Unloved

In first grade, I was in a play that honored the founding fathers and folk heroes of our country. The play ended with all of us singing the song, "God Bless the USA". I remember as we tried out for our parts (we would all get a part, but not all the parts were desired) As we were singing I can remember one of my classmates turning to me and saying. "You can't sing, why don't you just shut up." That was the first time I remember being judged for my ability to perform. It shut me down. I remember at that moment becoming more concerned about my ability to do things than I was about whether or not i actually did them. After that moment I would hesitate when asked to sing or do anything else in public.
When I was in the third grade we were in a play about a rainbow colored elephant. I was a hunter and my friend brandon Carter played the elephant. It was a Musical as well. I didn't sing, but I did carry a gun. My part was to hunt down and kill the animals so they were always in hiding. The end of that play found the elephant being accepted by his jungle companions in spite of his weird coloration. He chased off the hunters so everyone appreciated him.
I found myself thinking that if I could do something like that, then I would be accepted. Being accepted is so important. We all need to be liked just the way we are.
I spent some time this morning thinking about the love of God. Over the last week spent in Colorado I was honored to be reintroduced to his love in new ways. Very refreshing. One of the things we focused on was the baptism of Christ and that, as billy mentioned Sunday, everything Christ did in his life after that moment was planted in the truth that God was pleased with him. Christ worked out of acceptance.
How often have we worked out of rejection? How often have our actions been influenced by a fear of rejection or a desire for acceptance. We want to appear funny or exciting or intelligent so we act differently than we really are. We feel unacceptable, unloved, and unappreciated. We spend emotion, money, and time so that we can be what we think others want us to be.
When Peter denied Christ he ran away crying. He no longer felt accepted by Christ. Did Christ cease to accept him? Absolutely not. But the way Peter saw himself after that moment crippled him in the kingdom. It is not until Christ reinstates Peter that his fires are renewed.
How different would your life be if you'd lived under the knowledge of that acceptance? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.