Wind & Water Student Ministry

A Little Explanation

2009-09-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

Traffic here on this blog was pretty sporadic, so I haven't been posting anything for a while. I have been posting Wind & Water items on my other blog. Doing both blogs seemed to be more redundant than necessary so from here on out (actually, from several months ago) I'll be just using my theoquest blog. Everything that would have been included here will be posted there, so you won't miss anything, plus I often post other thoughts regarding what God is showing me as I seek to see Him more deeply and reveal Him more clearly.

Short version: check theoquest to keep up to date with what Wind & Water Student Ministries is doing.

Camp Scholarship

2009-06-15T15:02:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to register for camp if you have not already done so. The deadline for the cheaper rate is only a couple weeks away.

Also, if you would like the half tuition scholarship, you should be working on memorizing Matthew 10 and writing an essay (half page for Jr. High Week - full page for High School) that details what that passage has to do with how you live your life.

coldwater fundraiser

2009-06-05T14:10:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let you all know that next Sunday night (the 14th) we will be hosting dinner at Arby's. Part of the profits from 5:00 to 8:00 will go to help us on our mission trip this summer. Invite everyone you know to come and eat.

Good food + helping Jesus show His kingdom = awesome!

If you plan on going on the trip, plan on coming and helping at Arby's for a few hours. The service starts now. (Technically, it started a long time ago, but let's not quibble.)

If you need more information about coldwater, give me a call and I can fill in the details - but remember "not all who wander are lost."

Roadside Cleanup

2009-05-28T09:26:00.001-07:00

Last night about a dozen of us went out and cleaned up trash on the roadside. We were assigned a stretch of road that actually includes the area right out in front of the church property, so that was pretty convenient. It's a funny thing, picking up someone else's trash.

I didn't make the mess...

It's not my responsibility...

No one picks up after me...

I'm challenging our students to look for practical ways to be useful in the community. It's not enough for us to just say that Jesus cares about people. We have to show them that we care. In the stretch of road that we covered we picked up a whole bunch of evidence that people don't care. People don't care what the community looks like - so they throw their garbage out the car window. There are so many other ways that people say they don't care about each other, about God, about even themselves.

To a world that doesn't care about anything, what does it say when the church says "We care."?

Thanks to those of you who came last night to say you care.

coldwater mission

2009-05-20T15:22:00.001-07:00

Details coming soon, but be praying now for our trip in August.

Service opportunity

2009-05-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

Someone has a need for some spring yard care this weekend. (Mulching, mowing, edging, etc.)

Let me know if you are available and able to help on Saturday. The time is not set yet, but this will be a few hours (depending on how many are available to help). This would be a great way to earn a little scholarship money for this summer's camp. Give me a call if you want to help.

2009-04-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Just want to let everyone know you won't want to miss this week's youth night on Wednesday. We start at 7:00.

Andrew just got back from Haiti and has some great stories to tell. And if you've ever heard Andrew tell a story, you know it'll be awesome!

Also Jimmy and I and Rodd went to California last week for Catalyst. The conference was great and we want to share with you a little bit of what we learned. We'd share it all, but we're still getting over the brain overload, so we'll be nice and keep things bite-sized for now. Don't be late.

Lucid

2009-04-15T15:24:00.001-07:00

Spring Thing craziness is almost here! Are you ready?

After School...

2009-04-06T16:11:00.001-07:00

Wanting to help you guys finish the school year well. If you'd like some homework help we'll be having a time after school on Monday - Thursday where you can come hang out, get some help with homework if you need it, or just have a place away from your normal distractions to work on it. We started today at the Underground and will be doing this through the end of the school year. Give me a call or e-mail if you need any more details.

Sign up Now...

2009-03-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

Registrations are due for Lucid this week. Don't forget to bring your form on Wed. night - or drop it by the office anytime.

Cost is $40 for the weekend. (You can pay later if you need to, but if I don't get your form by Wed. night, you'll miss out on the t-shirt.)

Don't miss it.

Lifelight Tour

2009-03-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

This Friday, we'll be going to Alliance for the Lifeflight Tours Concert. Day of Fire, John Reuben, and Willet will be playing in the free show. Meet at the WestWay building at 6:00 (bring a few bucks for food if you want - we'll stop on the way out of town - or eat before you come). Check out Lifelight's website to find out more or listen to some of the bands' stuff. Be here by 6:00 - we'll be back late (11:30 or so, depending on when the concert ends).

Sad News...

2009-03-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

I got some bad news today: CIY has had to cancel this weekend's Discipleship event in Denver. I was really looking forward to the weekend, so this is pretty disappointing. Stay tuned for further info...

Jr./Sr. High Youth... Be Praying

2009-02-27T09:52:00.000-08:00

It never fails does it? You’re right in the middle of a great dream, soaring through the clouds, saving the day, or [insert your favorite dream here] - and the alarm begins to scream at you to drag your carcass out of bed to meet another day. The dream is gone - quickly disappearing into the morning ritual. By mid-day, most of last night’s dreams are choked out by today’s duties, forced to become nothing more than vague memories of something not quite real...

I wonder if too many of us spiritually live this way too? I wonder if we play with our faith during life’s ‘sleepy-time’, only to have it disappear at the sound of the alarms that drone on, calling us to the ordinary, day-to-day ritual of living? Does our faith really mean anything?

When we sleepwalk through our faith, we rob the world of the light Jesus wants us to take with us wherever we go. We cheat God’s missing children out of the ambassadors He’s sent to find them. Through 2009’s Spring Thing, we want to spur the next generation to live a lucid faith. A faith that is full of light and clearly understood... A faith that is awake and aware... A faith that matters in the day to day living of their lives... A faith that means everything.

Please be praying now that God would be working to prepare us each for His wake up call on April 17th-19th. Talk to Mike for registration information for you (and/or your group). Cost (which covers housing, registration, and meals from Saturday morning to Sunday morning) is $40 per student and $10 per adult if registration is sent in by April 2 ($50/$15 at the door). As always, Spring Thing will be a great time of reconnecting and great activities and worship. I’m really excited to have One Time Blind bringing the messages! If you haven’t seen them before, check out their site - they do an incredible job of creatively communicating the truth. We’ll also be trying some new elements for the weekend together, like an artist’s “colony”, meaningful service projects, a 40-hour flood of prayer, and a whole lot more.

But don’t just come for them. Don’t just come for your friends. Come because God’s dreams aren’t for sleeping...

Under the Bus

2009-02-23T14:56:00.001-08:00

Here is the unfrozen version of the video that should have played last night at the vision banquet. (The music is "Close to Your Heart" by The Glorious Unseen.)

Revolve and CIY Discipleship

2009-02-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

The Revolve Tour is coming up soon, girls. If you 'tentatively' reserved a spot, the time to commit is now. I have had several additional requests who are willing to commit, so please let me know right away for absolute certain if you intend to go. (That means "Turn in your registration form and $80 or your ticket may have to go to someone else.)
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CIY Discipleship is not too far down the road (March 6 & 7). I have registration forms available which are due Feb. 18th for this trip to Denver. This weekend is for High School and College students and promises a deeper look into God's presence with us.

Concert

2009-01-26T09:23:00.001-08:00

Omaha Trip

2009-01-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

Hey guys - just a reminder that if you're planning to go to Omaha (either Jr. High or High School) with us on the 30th, you need to bring your forms this week. You can use the link on the side of this page to print one out if you need to. I HAVE TO GET THESE WED. so don't forget.

Concert Update...

2009-01-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

I just got the flyer in the mail for the show. Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:00 (@1507 Broadway). Shane Coop will be opening the show, so don't be late! If you comment here, you can still get tickets for $5 each - but do it before Sunday because I have to let them know how many we need.

$5 concert

2009-01-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

Remedy Drive will be playing at the Underground on the 22nd of this month.

Tickets are $7 at the door, but if you leave a comment to this blog (click where it says 'comment' below the post), I'll get you a ticket for $5. Let me know if you want to go, and you can get the $5 anytime in the next couple weeks. The Underground is going a little more mainstream on this one, so pray for a good response - tell your friends (and let them know they can come here and get a $5 ticket, too).

Revolve

2009-01-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

The Revolve weekend is not too far away. Revolve tickets are here, girls. If you haven't reserved yours yet - do it soon! If you have already reserved a ticket - pay Mike soon.
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Also don't forget Winter White Wash payments and GORF registrations are due.

At the Crossroads 1.4

2008-12-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah had a lot of bad news to deliver - and people don't like to hear bad news. He had to warn people that the way they were living was going to end in their destruction. People didn't want to hear it. They just wanted to live their lives their own way and be left alone.

But Jeremiah had no choice. His relationship with God was deep enough that he couldn't just sit by and watch his nation be destroyed by their own choices. He cared enough about his countrymen that he delivered the messages God gave to him - even at a high personal cost.

In Jer. 26, things had escalated to the point that the crowd to which Jeremiah was preaching became a mob that was ready to take his life. Still he held on to the truth. All he had to do was offer some promise of peace (like so many other false prophets were doing) and he would have been spared. Just go with the flow, and the people would have let him be.

But as the crowd called for his death, and some royal officials arrived to "hold court", he would not let go of the truth. You see, Jeremiah had 'stood at the crossroads' and found the ancient way. He'd determined to walk in it - in obedience to God no matter what. So now he says to the court, "I'm at your mercy - do whatever you think is best. But... if you kill me, you kill an innocent man. I didn't say any of this on my own. God sent me and told me what to say."

Despite the objections of 'the priests and prophets', the court lets Jeremiah go. Finally, it seems, someone had believed him. Even some of the leaders got it. They remembered another prophet who had truthfully delivered news of impending destruction. Hezekiah, the king then, listened and prayed for mercy from God. And God spared the people of that time because they heard Him.

We need to decide what we'll do with the message of God today. Will we listen? Will we obey? Or will we ignore His Words to us? God has plans to care for us, not abandon us. But if we won't listen to His plans, we'll miss out on His future.

So "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it..."

See you at the crossroads.

Registrations

2008-12-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

Don't forget that registrations for Winter White Wash and Revolve tour are due this Sunday. I need forms and half the total cost turned in.

Some stuff that's coming up...

2008-12-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

(click below for an expanded view)

At the Crossroads 1.3

2008-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

I was reading Jeremiah 24 this morning and noticed what might seem unusual. Put yourself in Jeremiah's beard for a minute and imagine how strange this message must have seemed. He has been warning of the calamity that is going to come upon the people.

"If we don't repent, our nation will be destroyed by God." This is the basic gist of his message to his countrymen - a message they mostly ignore. And then it begins. For years he has been warning God's chosen people and now they're reaping the consequences of refusing to heed his warnings. Babylon has dragged off many of the people into slavery.

Now, if I'm living in a conquered nation, some of my countrymen are taken prisoner, but I'm left at home - I'm thinking about how fortunate I am to have been spared. Many in Judah were probably in that same state of mind. "Nebuchadnezzar has spared us! He's left us alone... or maybe he's not strong enough to take us all... We're survivors!"

But God had a little different viewpoint of these "survivors". "Like the rotten figs, so rotten they can't be eaten, is Zedekiah king of Judah. Rotten figs - that's how I'll treat him and his leaders, along with the survivors here and those down in Egypt." God was going to let them rot and die - cleansing the land of all of them!

The exiles, however, "are like the good figs, and I'll make sure they get good treatment. I'll keep my eye on them so that their lives are good , and I'll bring them back to this land. I'll build them up, not tear them down; I'll plant them, not uproot them. And I'll give them a heart to know me, God. They'll be my people and I'll be their God, for they'll have returned to me with all their hearts."

The people who seemed to be in pretty crappy conditions (slavery isn't that pleasant, I'm sure you'd agree) would be the ones coming out on the other side. The ones who seemed to have no hope for tomorrow would be the ones with a future with God because He used the circumstances to raise their desire to know Him.

I wonder if that's going on today? I wonder if the church has drifted from the heart of God. Have we allowed buildings and budgets and crowds and programs to become idols that have twisted our hearts away from God's loving hands? (Or maybe our idols are actors and writers and romantic stories and ipods and athletes...) What would an "exile" of God's people look like today? What will it take to be given "a heart to know God" - to be His people?

It will take us realizing that He is the only One.

All of what we think we need is nothing.

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it..."

See you at the crossroads.

UVR

2008-12-03T12:35:00.001-08:00

Don't forget to come early tonight. We'll meet at the WestWay building at 5:45, then go over to Central (you can also meet there at 6:00) for dinner and a great night with our friends from area churches. We'll be back here about 8:15, so let your rides know to pick you up then.

Week of Thanksgiving

2008-11-24T16:14:00.000-08:00

Don't forget that we will not be meeting this Wed. night, the 26th.

It's the night before my birthday and I need a break from you guys. Just kidding - we just wanted to give everyone some space to enjoy their families during Thanksgiving time. So... enjoy your family.

Also, keep in mind these upcoming events:
Winter White Wash - Jan. 23-25
GORF (Jr. High only) - Jan. 30-31
Revolve Tour (girls only) - Feb. 20-21
VOTA concert (came last year when they were called Casting Pearls - will be here again Feb. 3rd)

At the Crossroads 1.2

2008-11-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

Last night at youth group, a ping pong ball got broken. I know, right... Huge traumatic deal! Ok, maybe not such a big deal. The thing is, a girl came asking me for a ball because they couldn't find one. I asked the kids who I knew had been playing ping pong last if they remembered where they put the ball when they were done. "We don't have it."

"I know you don't have it, but do you know where it is."

"No."

"Where did you leave it?" (Knowing that ping pong balls don't generally go biped and walk off, I thought this was a pretty good question.)

"We didn't do anything."

"I didn't accuse you of doing anything."

....silence

...more silence

"We broke it."

Actually the confession was more like "We were hitting it and it broke all by itself." but the bottom line is the ping pong ball was toast.

Having no emotional attachment to the ping pong ball, I went to my office and got out a new one. No big deal. What is a big deal though is the way we try to cover up our secrets with lies. As soon as I asked about the ball, the boy got defensive and lied to me. Over a ping pong ball!

This is nothing new. Adam hid from God in the garden. Cain claimed ignorance of his brother's location even as he knew Abel's body lay right where he took the life from it. David covered up the theft of his neighbor's wife with a sneaky plan. When that didn't work, he made sure Urriah wouldn't live to know the truth. Ananias and Saphira lied to the apostles to cover up previous dishonesty.

At the crossroads, there is no room for hiding. Here, you must stand out in the open before God and bare your soul to Him. If there is any hope of finding your way (and there is), it requires you to show yourself. To openly place yourself in the hands that have so wonderfully made you. Hands that already know you.

Check out Psalm 39. Go ahead, read what you find at that link, then come back and answer these questions.

What are you trying to hide from God? How is that affecting your relationship with Him?

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it..."

See you at the crossroads.

Be Praying...

2008-11-11T14:42:00.000-08:00

We will be hosting this event in the Spring. Be praying now that God would be leading in every part of the process of preparation.

Weekend Reminder

2008-11-06T08:48:00.001-08:00

Just a quick reminder to those of you coming to Fall Fling this weekend. I'll get everyone signed in when they open registration and get you your t-shirt and stuff when you get here. Be here by 6:30 or so (the main session starts at 7:00).

Also, the concert on Saturday night is open to the public, so let your family and friends know they're welcome to come - tickets can be bought at the door.

See you soon.

Cutting Edge

2008-10-17T09:18:00.001-07:00

This Saturday (the 18th) is our week to do the Cutting Edge from 7-10 PM at KCMI.

The Cutting Edge is a radio show, where area youth ministers and a few students kind of take over the programming for a few hours. This is our week to provide this outreach to area teens.

If you'd like to come in this Saturday, call me. If not, you can tune in to 96.9 FM or listen online at KCMI.

Let me know if you've got any requests...

Heads Up...

2008-10-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Don't forget next Wed. night, we'll be bowling at the Bowl Arena. Bring $5 and meet at our parking lot for a ride at 6:40. We'll be back about 8:23.

Plan to come to the Fall Festival on Halloween night. We'll be having inflatable jousting, bungee run, and a gyro (not the sandwhich), as well as a chili cookoff (don't eat too much chili right before you get on the gyro!), trunk or treat, huge maze, and tons of fun for your whole family. Make sure you bring them - costume or not.

Also, make sure if you're in high school, you get your forms and registration turned in for Fall Fling and Turning Point right away. (FF is due this Sunday, the 19th and TP by next Sunday, the 26th.)

Registrations

2008-10-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Fall Fling 2008
November 7th – 9th
WestWay Christian Church
Scottsbluff, NE
$45
Summit Christian College

Turning point 2008
November 14th – 15th
StoneBridge Christian Church
Omaha, NE
$35
Nebraska Christian College

Registrations for Fall Fling and Turning Point are due soon. Fall Fling forms (2 of them) need to be turned in to Mike no later than next Sunday night (the 19th). Cost for Fall Fling is $45 if you are registered on time. If you're late, the cost goes up to $65 (plus you'll miss out on the free t-shirt), so make sure you get registered on time.

Since this event actually takes place in our own backyard, I know it's tempting to just come and go. I strongly urge you (that's what people say when they can't really make a real threat) to rethink that mentality. If you want to come to Fall Fling, clear your weekend and come to Fall Fling. Popping in and out will only lead you to distract your friends - you'll have a nice visit with them, but you'll miss the point of the weekend.

Turning Point registrations need to be turned in by Oct. 26th. Registration is $35 (an extra $15 may be needed for housing).

If you do not have the forms, you can pick them up anytime from Mike or use the permission form link in the right hand column of this page to print one off for yourself.

2008-09-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Don't forget next Wed. the 1st of October, we will be hosting United Valley Rally for all High School and Middle School students in the area.

Food starts at 6:00 - we'll be done about 8:00.

Ever felt like your life is not as productive as it could be? Come explore what to do about that on the 1st and remind your friends to come too.

Feel like a quiz???

2008-09-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hey HS Sunday morning class - don't forget to brush up on the first several chapters of Genesis for this weekend!

2008-09-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

As school gets back into full swing, make sure you’re keeping up with what’s going on in the student ministry here at WestWay. We have a few new scheduling options to be aware of:

Jr. High class will meet as usual on Sunday mornings at 9:00 in room 102 (just outside the gym across from the nursery). The Jr. High students also meet at the usual time (7:00 PM) on Wednesday nights in the chapel. If the chapel is empty, come to the gym for Jr. High Fight Night (just kidding about the “Fight” part!).

A new High School class will be meeting on Sunday mornings in the room to the north of the chapel at 9:00. You bring your Bible, I’ll bring the donuts.

High School students will also be meeting on Sunday nights at 6:30 at Mike’s house (2410 5th Ave.) for prayer and Bible study (and the ever-exciting “Can You Beat a 6 Year Old?” board game challenge with Dakota).

These things happen every week. Now is a great time to join us, make some new friends, and grow deeper in your connection to Jesus and His Body.

Here are also some special events that are coming up over the next few months:

ADVANCE THE CALL
Sept. 13th area youth rally
7:00 @ The Underground
1507 Broadway

HIGH SCHOOL CLASS “FIELD TRIP”
WHITE WATER CHRISTIAN CHURCH LAUNCH
On Sept. 14th, White Water Christian Church will launch. (That’s next Sunday!) In support of the launch, a group of our high school students will be going to Laramie to worship with them. Be praying for the church to thrive and serve well in this new environment. We’ll meet at the WestWay building at 6:15 AM and leave at 6:30. Talk to Mike if you want to go.

November High School Events with impending registrations:

Fall Fling
SCC in Scottsbluff – Nov. 7th - 9th

Turning Point
NCC in Omaha – Nov. 14th - 16th

Windows of the World (teen missions convention)
Tulsa, OK – Nov. 21st-23rd

These 3 weekends are packed together, so you may have to choose. Choose prayerfully and choose wisely what you’ll be doing these weekends in November. Save all 3 weekends if you can. More details are coming soon.

This Week...

2008-08-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

How many LiCs does it take to get to the end of the summer? Well, we've only got one Life in Context left. We'll be meeting at 6:00 at Matt Gribble's house this Wednesday night. This will be Dan's final week here at WestWay, so if you want to bring a little gift for him to say thanks and goodbye, now is the time.

Also this week, we will not be having GameDay - despite what the bulletin said on Sunday.

The next activity after this Wed. will be our Fall Kickoff on August 27th @ 6:00.

Does anybody actually check this site to see what's going on, or am I wasting my time?

Begin Praying Now...

2008-07-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about direction for Spring Thing next April and just wanted to ask you guys to pray for nothing else to conflict with the weekend we choose. (If you know of any April events that are already scheduled let me know right away.) I don't want to host the rally just because it's 'our turn' this year. I want this to be the most impacting weekend possible. Please be praying now that preparation will go well, students will be challenged and ready to "wake up" and get to work with God.

It's not set in stone yet, but I'm almost locked in to bringing One Time Blind in. They're a great drama group that does an awesome job of getting you into the story of Christ's love for us and driving His message right to your heart. The emphasis of their current material fits in perfectly with the focus I was planning for the weekend. Check out their website and be praying that the details will be worked out for them to come.

2008-07-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

We will be leaving Saturday at 7AM (not 6). Be sure to bring water and sun spray and stuff. Tickets are $29 and you'll also need food money.

2008-07-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday night we'll be meeting here at the church building at 6:00. Bring some cash for supper and we'll go downtown and visit the West Nebraska Arts Center's water-themed show. We'll talk about how we use the water metaphor in our ministry.

2008-06-30T08:23:00.001-07:00

Meet at the church building this Wednesday night at 6:00. We'll go to the Holloway's house for this week's cookout. Don't forget...

CAMP NEWS (& SCHOLARSHIP INFO)

2008-06-23T09:23:00.001-07:00

Just in case you haven't seen this info yet... (if you haven't you need to get your camp forms)

Jr. High camp is July 13-18. (Registration is due July 3.)
HS camp is July 20-28. (Register by July 10.)
Junior camp is July 28-31. (Register by July 17.)

Those dates will be here soon, so don't wait. If you'd like to apply for a half registration scholarship ($75) let me know and I'll tell you what you need to do to be elligible. Ok, ok, I'll just tell you now. Jr. High and High School Students - first, memorize Philippians 1:27 - 2:18. Tell me or your parents (who will then verify your work with me). Then, write a short essay answering the question, "What does it mean for me to live with the attitude of Jesus?" Jr High students turn in about 1/2 a page; HS students a page or so. It would be really good if you'd type this out for me. This isn't a test or a pass/fail situation. I just want you to really think about the Words you're memorizing. Don't just chew them up and spit them out. Let them sink into your heart and transform your thinking. I put an example of the type of essay I'm looking for on my blog, so you can check this link if you need a little help getting started.

2008-06-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

We'll be meeting at 6:00 this Wednesday night (the 25th) at the Hall's house. We'll be having burgers and stuff, so bring your appetite! (Has anyone else noticed that it's been rainy and cold EVERY Wednesday night for over a month?)

Expelled

2008-06-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday night's activity will be going to the Midwest Theater for the movie, "Expelled". Cost is $5 and you must have a ticket beforehand. Buy them from me right away before someone else does.

Heading to the Lake

2008-06-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Last night was way too rainy, so we went bowling instead of planned trip to the lake. We'll try again next week.

We'll be going to the lake Wednesday night (June 11th). Meet at the WestWay building at 6:00, and we'll return about 9:00, after a good time at the lake, and another great message from Dan. (If you haven't met Dan, yet, you should be ashamed of yourself!) He'll continue in our Life In Context summer series.

Later this summer, we'll be meeting at the theater, at the Hall's house, and several other fun places. Watch for the Life in Context logo, so you'll always know where we'll be... (if you have any good ideas for where to meet, or want to host a night, talk to Mike.)

Wanna Play?

2008-06-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

We won't be breaking out my old Atari, but we will be playing some games on Thursday. Starting this week, we'll get together at 1:30 on Thursday afternoons to hang out and play video games on the big screen (which is actually a wall). We've got a Wii here, but if you want to bring your X-Box or PS2 or whatever else, go ahead and we'll set up a few extra screens.

Note: Bring your own games and stuff, but also know that Mike will have discretion on whether or not a game is appropriate for those who are here. If part of the game-play is running drugs or picking up prostitutes etc. - don't get mad at me when I tell you we're not going to play it.

2008-05-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

How can you have an influence with your friends? Can your life really impact someone else's? Is it possible to actually have an influence on our culture, instead of the other way around?

Make sure you're here tomorrow night for UVR. We'll start with pizza at 6:00, have a time of worship and talk about influence. Hope you can make it.

Watch for details...

2008-05-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

Summer fun begins...

2008-05-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Our summer series of backyard barbeques will be called "Life in Context". We'll meet at various places throughout the next few months, have supper together (so don't eat before you come!), and roll through the book of Acts - looking at what the church was like in the first century and what that has to do with us now.

Make sure you don't miss this first week, when we say hello to Dan (who'll be doing an internship with us all summer long), and say goodbye to Dani & Mackenzie (who leave soon for their new home in KS). We'll be having the going away party at the Thomas' house just east of Mitchell. You can meet at the church building at 6:00 for a ride.

Bite Back Follow Up

2008-05-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

Our talent show to raise money for Compassion's BiteBack program went pretty well last night. We raised just over $600. I was a little disappointed that we didn't have more of an audience, but this is the first time we've done anything like this. Maybe word will get out about how good it was and next time, we'll have more interest. The students did a really good job.

We had everything from pole vaulting to "A Whole New World" to a "Popular" song/skit to dance to train building (which was a favorite of the kids in the crowd) to video editing & several piano solos... We even had a McDonald's drive through for a few minutes! The two students who had the most stage time ended up leading the "vote count" with Teresa (dance, rap, piano, & vocals) just edging out Sam (piano, jokes, & MC). Thanks to every student who shared a talent and to those in the audience who generously "voted".

I was stressed with a number of last minute switches and glitches on the computer, but in the end, over 60 kids will soon be protected from malaria, so it was well worth it. We made a difference. And that was the point.
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On a personal level, if you'd like to make even more of a difference to one child in particular, check out the link in the sidebar of my blog to sponsor a child through Compassion's child sponsorship.

Don't Forget...

2008-05-02T15:51:00.001-07:00

Prayer Trip

2008-05-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

Nevermind this last post. Once again, we are snowed out of Laramie! We'll reschedule again this summer.
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Anyone interested in going to Laramie to pray for White Water Christian Church (the church plant that will launch this fall) needs to be here at 6:00 Saturday morning (this Saturday, the 3rd). We'll be gone until 6:00 or so Saturday night. Be sure to dress warm and bring a coat, your Bible and a notebook and pen (or prayer journal).

Please call me to tell me you're coming if you are.

FCA Banquet

2008-04-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday night, I mentioned the FCA banquet that is coming up next week. (This is the annual banquet that FCA does to raise money for scholarships to FCA camps.) This year the banquet will be held at the Gering Civic Center and will feature Steve Fitzhugh (former Denver Bronco) speaking. The banquet will be at 6:45 on Wed., April 30th.

Because we already have things planned that night and didn't know about the banquet until this week, we won't be going as a group, but I wanted to get you the information if you want to go yourself. (I know several of you are already planning to go, so watch for each other.)
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Don't forget you should have your stuff together for the talent show. Practice beforehand and be sure to invite everyone you know. Remember the point is raising money for BiteBack. (Only $5.50 was given last week, bringing us to only about 5% of our total goal of 300 nets.)

Don't Disappear

2008-04-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

Summer is a great time for students to unwind; getting out of the school routine, enjoying great weather...

Unfortunately, it's also a time when a lot of students get disconnected from the youth ministry, the church, and ultimately from Christ himself. Don't let yourself get disconnected this summer. To help you stay connected, we're going to keep more of a regular schedule throughout the next several months. (As opposed to hit & miss on different nights of the week.) We will still meet on Wednesday nights all summer long (with a few exceptions).

This summer, LIFE in CONTEXT will be our theme. We'll be meeting in a different place than usual... you'll have to wait and see where all that will be. I want us to really dig into a few portions of Scripture and look at what it meant in the context when it was written and how that translates into the context of now. I want you to discover what it means to be the church in CONTEXT.

Don't disappear this summer. In addition to LIFE in CONTEXT, we'll be having a summer UVR on May 28 at 6:00. Also Dan Cummings of Norton, KS and NCC here all summer doing an internship (Dan was on NCC's camp team last year, so some of you met him then).

On the Air

2008-04-17T15:52:00.001-07:00

This Saturday night, our ministry is responsible for The Cutting Edge on KCMI. The show is 3 hours of sweetness from 7 to 10 PM (note the time change). You can listen locally at 96.9 FM or online at KCMI (just click on Listen Now at the top of the page).

If you have requests, listen and call them in. (Keep in mind this is a Christian station reaching out to students of the older variety - please don't request japanese veggie songs - please... let's keep it rockish...)

If you want to come in and be on the radio with me, call me.

Looking Foolish

2008-04-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night we'll be talking about looking foolish. What does that have to do with following Jesus? Come find out...

Also, remember that tomorrow night is the last night to sign up to share your talent at the BiteBack Benefit.

BiteBack Benefit

2008-04-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

Don't forget the BiteBack Benefit coming up.
We want to raise as much money as possible to buy nets and educate people about malaria. We won't raise anything if people aren't here, so start talking about it. The show will be at 7:00 on May 7th. Get your parents to bring their whole small groups, neighbors, grandparents, etc. Next week will be the last week to sign up to share your talent, so get a form and let me know what you want to do.

Trip details

2008-04-08T08:29:00.000-07:00

We'll be leaving for Spring Thing this Friday, the 11th at about 3:45. (Just come when you get out of school - if you have it that day.) Make sure you bring a sleeping bag with you because we'll be staying at some great people's houses! Also bring money for supper on Friday night and lunch on Sunday. If you'd like to do a skit, or a karaoke song, bring along whatever you need. Finally, you'll want to bring some clothes for the time at the YMCA.

--special note for Shane - when we travel together, RedBull is not your friend...

BiteBack update

2008-04-02T20:11:00.001-07:00

The last couple weeks, the total has been another $46 plus a few bucks in change. That's another 5 nets.

- Be sure to let me know in the next week if you've got a talent to share in the BiteBack Benefit.

- See if you can find some odd jobs around your neighborhood to raise money to fight malaria.

2008-03-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

Malaria Bites!

2008-03-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

Last night's "fill JohnPaul's hat" raised $56.53 for our BiteBack project! (If you missed it, go to the website and find out what this project is all about.) That's not too shabby when you consider you guys had no warning that we were going to collect anything, this was the first time you'd ever heard of BiteBack, and many of you don't have a regular source of income. I'm really excited to see how it will go next week, when you know what's coming and can be prepared! I already heard of one of you who's planning to pick up dog poop to earn some money for BiteBack. (That's why I love youth ministry - you guys are awesome.)

I'm also really excited about the BiteBackBenefit we'll be doing this spring. Cody and Jesse are already locked in with a couple videos and I can't wait to see what other talents you guys will share. Goals are good, so I'm setting one for us right now: 300 nets. That's a long way from 5, but ever since last weekend, when I first heard of BiteBack, that's the number that's stuck in my head - 295 to go!
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Thurs. morning update: I sent in payment for 5 nets. Use the comments section here to share your stories about how you're raising money. (How's the dog poop going, David???)

2008-03-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

Ministry Environments Overview

2008-03-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

I have met a lot of students who think they have rejected God. They think they know who Jesus is and what the church is all about and have turned from what they see as an old-fashioned thought police department that really doesn't have anything to do with their everyday life. The problem is, they've only met a sort of mini-god that doesn't resemble the Creator very much at all. The overarching aim of our student ministry is to "reveal God to students".

The name of our ministry "Wind & Water Student Ministries" has been chosen to reflect that desire. Our part of the country is shaped geologically by wind and water. The Bluffs that dominate our landscape reveal the activities of these two elements. The farms and ranches that surround us would dry up and die without access to life-giving water. In the same way that our landscape reveals the presence and activity of wind and water, we want our ministry to reveal God and His action in the world today.

We are adopting a two pronged approach to revealing God to students that incorporates two key phrases: "Bringing Students to Life" and "Taking Life to Students". As we are defining our process of discipleship, everything ties into these two thoughts. "Bringing Students to Life" is first about helping students meet Jesus - the real Jesus! Our youth ministry team's most basic function here, then, is to pray for students and design encounters between them and Jesus.

As they encounter Him and get to know who He really is, our hope and prayer is that they will be moved from death into life. Very literally, we want to see students resuscitated by the Spirit of God - a move from merely 'dying' for 70 years or so to really living the full life Jesus came to give us. Critical to sustaining this life is connecting to the Vine and being grafted into the Body of Christ. We don't want students to simply be a part of our "youth group" - we want them to connect deeply with Christ and His Church.

As they make this connection, we want our students to begin taking Life to other students. We want them to learn how to really love the kid at the next locker the way that God does. We want them to take water to thirsty people - to care for the least of these in our world today. When God is allowed to love people through us, this leads our students to live in a context where His mission is at the forefront. We want our students to choose to live a life of service to that mission both within the church and outside the church. As they serve, we want them to see their service as participation in God's life-giving mission to the world. They complete the circle by becoming agents of God's bringing people to life.

We're still developing this approach to student ministry, and using the water cycle to visualize this process of discipling. The students will move through 4 environments in our discipleship process: Ocean, Vapor, Rain, River. (I'll explain these a little more over the next couple weeks or so - but until then, what are your thoughts? Leave a comment and share them...)

Core Values

2008-03-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

These statements represent what lies beneath the things we do and how we do them. We will reflect these values in all facets of our student ministry.

Students matter to God.
God deserves our attention.
Jesus didn't die so we could just hang out and be nice. He died so we could live the full life as His disciples.
Discipleship only happens in the context of relationship.

Why Wind & Water?

2008-03-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

Look outside any Panhandle home and you can see the effects of Wind. Check any farm around and you can see the need for Water. Wind and Water serve as two strong symbols for our student ministries at WestWay.

There is a very strong Biblical link between wind and the Holy Spirit of God. In our student ministries we want to be driven by that Divine Wind. We want to pursue His mission in the world, not our own amusement or entertainment. God is at work, and we are joining Him.

Jesus once said to his followers that if they gave a cup of cold water to a thirsty stranger, they'd given it to him. He didn't withhold love from anyone who came to him seeking it. In our student ministries, we are sharing the love of Christ with people who are thirsty for it.

Wind and Water. The Mission of God's Spirit and the Love of His Son. Bringing students to life... and bringing life to students. The vision of our student ministries is to be as wind and water, revealing God to students.

Welcome

2008-03-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new site. I'm going to try to keep everyone up to date web wise with this blog. Check back often, or get the feed on your newsreader to keep in touch with what's going on with Wind & Water.