This week's show features a handy dandy recap of our winter break, Kyle's injury report,  Olympics Wrap-Up, the Lost Widgets (Click Here To Download), A Lost Snowboard, the In N OUt Secret Menu (Click Here)and much, much more!!!!


Thomas's Knees in Action!



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So as I look at the forecast at weather.com, I see that we have nothing but rain, rain and more rain in the forecast.  Now on the one hand I understand that rain is essential for our water supply, agricultural industry, weather, and life.  But on the other hand, it just puts a serious damper on my day.

So what do you do when it rains?  Do you get depressed?  Do you curl up next to the heater or fire with a good book and enjoy the time indoors?  Do you stare wantingly out the window hoping for the sun to break through?

About a week an a half ago I started a bike ride right when it started to rain and halfway through it it really began to pour down.  I actually loved it!  It reminded me of the time when I was a kid and I loved playing in the rain.  At what age do you think we begin to not like playing in the rain?  Splashing through puddles, drinking in the rain.  Man those were good times.  Why do we learn to not like playing in the rain?  When does getting wet in the rain become an annoyance?

So as I sit here listening to the rain beating down on the house I am thankful for the rain, the vegetation that it will help grow, the plums, oranges, and lemons that we will have in our back yard because of it, and all the other blessings we receive because of rain. . . like LIFE.

This week we are up at Tahoe Skiing and Boarding.  There is nothing like taking a lift up to the top of the mountain and looking out at the amazing scenery that God has so freely given us to enjoy.  How amazing is God that He would give us mountains, snow, sunshine, and trees?  Except that He ALSO gave us Friends, Family, Music, Food, and Laughter to enjoy as well. 

I hope to be enjoying the friends and family much more this week. 

Have a great week off school. 

Rest, relax and enjoy God's creation.

Whose your favorite President?  Is it Lincoln or Washington?  I mean they BOTH having a lot going for them.  Washington was the general of the Revolutionary Army and the first president of the United States.  That is bravery in action.  For Washington to be the General and first president he was in essence committing treason against Britain.  But on the other hand, he was reported to have had wooden teeth.  How gross is that?

In the other corner you have Lincoln.  The dude freed the slaves.  That has to be another mark in the courage department, for by doing so, he pits half of the country against you. 

Bottom line is both exhibited great leadership and tremendous courage in extremely important times in our nation's history. 

Being a leader is a difficult thing to do. 

You have to stick your neck out many times in order to stand by your beliefs.  What beliefs do you have that make it difficult to stand up at times? 

The flips side of leadership is actually knowing that you are doing something meaningful.  When you lead, you influence.  Leadership is a powerful position.  You can use that influence to influence those around you either positively or negatively.  Washington and Lincoln used their leadership to influence those around them for the better. 

May you do the same this week.

YOU HAVE ONE LIFE . . . DO SOMETHING

.::Make your own mix CD for the Jukebox

I know that this week's Winter Break will find you sitting around doin' nothin' at least for SOME of the week.  So make yourself useful and express yourself through your music library.  Make your own CD for the Student Ministry Jukebox.

So when you come to Bible Class, Sanctuary, or any other Youth Group event, you can play some of your favorite tunes!  Here is also a way for you to leave a little bit of you behind.  We have space for 100 CDs.  So here is what you can do:

1.  Make your own mix CD:  Remember this is a church jukebox so only put songs with decent lyrics on it (I think that falls under the DUH category)  Also, Make sure each track you burn is a track you own.  Don't burn  music that you may have downloaded from one of those sketchy sites on the internet. 

2.  Pick a number from 00-99 where you want your CD to go in the jukebox.  That way when you come into the Birch room you know exactly where YOUR CD is.

3.  Name Your Mix:  You can name your mix whatever you want.  Be creative and make it something that reflect WHO you are.

4.  Bring it to Youth Group:  We can't put your CD in if we don't have it.  Make sure you have a list of tracks on your CD so that we can make a card for the jukebox.

So go and do it now. 

Lieutenant Grecu · Romania  · Circa 1948

The tough young lieutenant faced Richard Wurmbrand, questioning him on his many activities with the underground church. After accusing him of lying about his contacts, Grecu ordered him to write out all the rules Wurmbrand had broken while in prison.

Wurmbrand willingly sat at the table writing out his “Declaration.” It had been two years since he had held a pen, so it was difficult to write. After he had listed all the rules he had broken, he ended his confession with, “I have never spoken against the Communists. I am a disciple of Christ, who has given us love for our enemies. I understand them and pry for their conversion so that they will become my brothers in the faith.”

Lieutenant Grecu had been indoctrinated with the belief the Communism was the answer to the world’s problems, when he read the “Declaration,” he was overwhelmed.  How could Wurmbrand write of his love for a government that had put him in prison and tortured him for so many years?

Grecu scoffed, “This is one of your Christian commandments that no one can keep.”

Wurmbrand looked at the Lieutenant, his eyes filled with the love of God, and responded, “It’s not a matter of keeping a commandment.  When I became a Christian, it was as if I had been reborn, with a new character full of love.  Just as only water can flow from a spring, so only love can come from a loving heart.”

Over the years, Wurmbrand had many other opportunities to talk about God’s love with Lieutenant Grecu.  Before he was released, in his own prison cell, Wurmbrand had the wonderful privilege of seeing Grec confess Christ.

Jesus Freaks love their enemies.  Others say it is too hard—impossible in fact—which is true, unless God does it for you and through you.  It is not ever easy to pray for your enemies, but it works

As you pray for prisoners in restricted countries around the world, pray that God’s love will be evident in their lives and that it would change the hearts of their tormentors as it changed Lietenant Grecu.

 

Taken from "Jesus Freaks" by DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs, Bethany House Publishers, 1999.

http://www.jesusfreaks.net

A friend of mine does a lot of work overseas helping to train different ministers on other cultures.  He just e-mailed me some of his reflections after returning from a trip to Liberia that I wanted to share with you and give you something ot think about as we live here in America and the different freedoms and blessings that we are afforded in our country.


"As you can imagine, the stories in my journal take up several pages--but allow me to share 7 of the more memorable moments lingering in my head this morning... 1. Overhearing the banter between a 20 year old African American and his much older looking Liberian porter at baggage claim in Monrovia. Each was convinced the other one's life was much easier!

Today I turn 39 . . . really.  I am not turning 40 and telling everyone I am 39.  I really am 39.  As I reflect on entering my last year of my 30s and beginning to approach my 40s, here are some of the questions that run through my head and other brain droppings that I wanted to share with you:

Have I been a good steward of my 14,245 days that I have been given thus far? 

How many more days will God give me?  1? 365? 12,434? or more?  What do those days have in store for me?

I was born on a Wednesday and today is Wednesday, that’s weird.

I was born again 6,969 days ago.  It was a cold Sunday night in College Station, Texas that I was baptized.  I had to go to work at Fuddruckers later that evening.  I was never so happy mopping a floor as I was that night.

Being a husband and a dad is probably the second and third greatest things of my 39 years after my number one choice to follow Jesus with my whole life.  Without those three things, my life would be meaningless.  Jesus, Amy, Madeline and Abby have filled my life with more joy that one man ought to get to enjoy!

I have been in full-time youth ministry for 5,004 days.  How many retreats, camps, lock-ins, bible studies, prayer breakfasts, mission trips, service projects, that that equate to?  Probably the more important question to be asking is, "How many lives does that mean?"  My answer is, "Not enough."

My hope is that the next 13 years a filled with MORE impact on the WORLD in the name of God.  MORE poverty eradicated, more needs in Africa met, MORE Invisible Children cared for, more wells build in remote villages, MORE people with AIDS receiving the needed care, MORE girls freed from the bondage of sexual slavery, MORE  students who KNOW, really KNOW about Jesus, MORE grace distributed by students in my ministry, MORE justice realized in the world, because of my life.

One thing that I do know is that I don't need more THINGS.  I need more friends, more memories with people, less things that plug in and more connection times with family, friends and others.  Relationships and friendships are what really make this life a lot of fun. 

If I can laugh at least half as much these next few years as I have the past few years I will count myself a fortunate man.

Youth ministry has been the best things for my personality type.  I GET PAID to study the Bible, teach others about God's grace, go to camp, play at Great America and Waterworld, serve homeless people, produce an podcast with some hilarious talent, take some great road trips, as part of my job!  I would be doing this for free if I could.  God is good. . . all the time! 

I love being bald.  I know there are some people who fight it off with Rogaine and other things like that.  I have really enjoyed being bald.  No more shampoo, gel, conditioner, hat hair, tangles, etc. to mess with.  Just a razor and a bar of soap is all I need to get my dome ready in the morning.  Make fun of me all you want, my response is that hair is over rated.

The church has been a second family to me and an immeasurable blessing.

I’d be NOTHING without the GRACE of GOD.

This week's show features a call from Amy, a recap of the conspiracy that is Valentine's Day, an Olympic Update from Torino, an interview with Dave Laubscher and much, much more!!!!

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If you want to stream the show CLICK HERE. Get it by clicking on the Attachment link below:

Wasn't Valentine's Day GREAT when you were a kid?  I mean you had your little brown papr bag with your name on it and you got Valentines from EVERYONE in your class.  And you even got candy with some of it.  Now those were good times.

But when you grow up, you don't get Valentines from everyone anymore.  And then there is that whole "Who am I going to get a Valentine from this year?"  or "Am I going to get ANY Valentines?" can easily morph into "Nobody loves me."  Ad we spiral downward...

We that is all bull-hokey.  After all a lot of what we think of for Valentines is really Bo-hokey.  Yeah, I said Bo-hokey.  Bo-hokey manufactured by the Greeting Card, Diamond Roses and Chocolate Industries.  And we all get sucked in to it.

Here is something that is not Bo-hokey:  Bottom line . . . God loves you. 

What else does one really NEED?

The Creator of the Universe LOVE YOU! 

WOW!

I MEAN WOOOOOOW!

GOD LOVES YOU!

That is the BEST Valentine EVER!