1- If you're diabetic, don't feel bad for not giving up food. Your blood sugar levels will thank you.
2- If you just totally forget, and give in to (listening to music, or drinking Sun Drop, etc.): don't beat yourself up. The idea is recognizing the sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross, not perfectly maintaining your fast.
Here are the notes below from tonight, in case you lost them:
Lent fasting ideas/options
__ TV show (you watch every day or so)
__ Social media (facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.)
__ iPod/Zune/mp3 player __ Music while you drive
__ food __ Favorite beverage (Dr. Pepper, Sun Drop, Milk)
__ Sweets and/or snacks __ texting
Tips:
• Pick something you do on a daily or regular basis
• Sundays are off days, celebrate Jesus being alive!
• Don’t beat yourself up if you forget. Or cave in.
• Pick something that will be a challenge to you.
• WE FAST DURING LENT BECAUSE IT REMINDS US OF THE SACRIFICE CHRIST MADE FOR US. WE SACRIFICE BECAUSE CHRIST SACRIFICED FOR US.
Other verses to explore:
• Matthew 4:1-11 • Luke 2:37 • Ezra 8:23
• Esther 4:16 • Isaiah 58:3-5 • Joel 1:14
• Psalm 69:10 • Jonah 3:5
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
snowboard discipleship
I recently have had a revelation. Don't get too excited, it's not about the end times. But every now and then, God connects thoughts in my mind that hadn't come together yet.
For example, on our annual ski trip we took the group to North Carolina's Sugar Mountain. The first day, we had some beginners, so I offered to help our snowboarders. Only one had never been before, so he and I got our equipment and headed to the mountain. We met up with some other students who had been before and immediately headed toward the ski lift. *NOTE TO SELF* I should never take a beginner straight to the lift. Not that he fell or anything, but we would be starting on a much steeper hill than the bunny hill. Don't let the excitement of the moment get me distracted from the current need.* So we got off the lift with little incident, and strapped on the boards. From here, it was a long process of getting down the hill. This was really my fault, not the new snowboarder's fault.
My whole idea to this post is this: as student ministers, we get all excited about seeing a student come to put their faith and trust in Christ, but what do we do next?
This is what hit me on Sugar Mountain: I get all excited about going on the ski trip and getting the students there, but do I just hand them the equipment and say go for it? Or in another way, I can be part of the process where students come to Christ, but then what?
Here's the conclusion I came to: it's not enough just to get them to a certain point (the mountain/point of accepting Christ); I'm going to have to stay with them and keep coaching and keep encouraging and constantly challenge them. Sure we need to get them the right equipment (Bible, solid teaching,etc.). But we can't give up on them. Even though the process is going to be messy (we're dealing with people here, right?) and can be painful at times, it's so worth it.
When we launch students into college, work, or military life; I pray that they are able to keep growing and learning on their own. And hopefully they can teach the next generation to love God and love others. Or maybe even snowboarding (or skiing for all you ski people out there).
A secondary point is that I know I am not going to be able to disciple everyone, which makes me realize that much more our need of small groups and leaders who love God and like teens.
For example, on our annual ski trip we took the group to North Carolina's Sugar Mountain. The first day, we had some beginners, so I offered to help our snowboarders. Only one had never been before, so he and I got our equipment and headed to the mountain. We met up with some other students who had been before and immediately headed toward the ski lift. *NOTE TO SELF* I should never take a beginner straight to the lift. Not that he fell or anything, but we would be starting on a much steeper hill than the bunny hill. Don't let the excitement of the moment get me distracted from the current need.* So we got off the lift with little incident, and strapped on the boards. From here, it was a long process of getting down the hill. This was really my fault, not the new snowboarder's fault.
My whole idea to this post is this: as student ministers, we get all excited about seeing a student come to put their faith and trust in Christ, but what do we do next?
This is what hit me on Sugar Mountain: I get all excited about going on the ski trip and getting the students there, but do I just hand them the equipment and say go for it? Or in another way, I can be part of the process where students come to Christ, but then what?
Here's the conclusion I came to: it's not enough just to get them to a certain point (the mountain/point of accepting Christ); I'm going to have to stay with them and keep coaching and keep encouraging and constantly challenge them. Sure we need to get them the right equipment (Bible, solid teaching,etc.). But we can't give up on them. Even though the process is going to be messy (we're dealing with people here, right?) and can be painful at times, it's so worth it.
When we launch students into college, work, or military life; I pray that they are able to keep growing and learning on their own. And hopefully they can teach the next generation to love God and love others. Or maybe even snowboarding (or skiing for all you ski people out there).
A secondary point is that I know I am not going to be able to disciple everyone, which makes me realize that much more our need of small groups and leaders who love God and like teens.
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