Attending CIY

I will be attending a Christ In Youth conference from Sunday June 25 through Saturday July 1.
I encourage you to visit the CIY website and begin to see what it is all about. I hope that along with Tanglewood Camp we will be able to attend CIY next year.
I plan to take photos and video so that you can catch a glimpse of what is to come!
See you in July!
-T-
www.ciy.com

How Can You Resist Spaghetti Night?

If Saddam had begun his hunger strike after dinner he could have slept in the next morning, missing breakfast, and then he would have just about doubled his time fasting.
-T-

Saddam ends hunger strike after missing one meal

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein ended a brief hunger strike after missing just one meal in his U.S.-run prison, a U.S. military spokesman said Friday.
The former Iraqi leader had refused lunch Thursday in protest at the killing of one of his lawyers by gunmen, but the spokesman said he ate his evening meal.
Former Saddam aides being held in the same prison had refused to eat three meals since Wednesday evening but ended their fast with the ex-president.
"They all took their dinner meal," the spokesman told Reuters.
Saddam is on trial for crimes against humanity for his role in the 1982 killing of 148 Shi'ites in Dujail. His lead counsel, Khalil al-Dulaimi, has blamed pro-government Shi'ite militias for the murder of his deputy Khamis al-Obaidi Wednesday.

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Beware of Too Much Service!

This article warns of the dangers of a cell phones reception possibilities. Seeing how most students today own a cell phone which is permanent attached to their ears, it would be prudent to heed this article.
-T-

Mobile phone users warned of lightning strike risk

LONDON (Reuters) - People should not use mobile phones outdoors during thunderstorms because of the risk of being struck by lightning, doctors said Friday.
They reported the case of a 15-year-old girl who was using her phone in a park when she was hit during a storm. Although she was revived, she suffered persistent health problems and was using a wheelchair a year after the accident.
"This rare phenomenon is a public health issue, and education is necessary to highlight the risk of using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather to prevent future fatal consequences from lighting strike injuries," said Swinda Esprit, a doctor at Northwick Park Hospital in England.
Esprit and other doctors at the hospital added in a letter to the British Medical Journal that usually when someone is struck by lightning, the high resistance of the skin conducts the flash over the body in what is known as a flashover.
But if a metal object, such as a phone, is in contact with the skin it disrupts the flashover and increases the odds of internal injuries and death.
The doctors added that three fatal cases of lightning striking people while using mobile phones have been reported in newspapers in China, South Korea and Malaysia.
"The Australian Lightning Protection Standard recommends that metallic objects, including cordless or mobile phones, should not be used (or carried) outdoors during a thunderstorm," Esprit added.

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Thoughts and Shots from Tanglewood: Summer 2006

ENTER THE SACRED...

...was the theme of our week of camp this year. The idea was that through Spiritual Disciplines (i.e. meditating, fasting, Bible reading, Bible studying, prayer, journaling, solitude, etc.) we move from casual relationship with God, into a passionate relationship with our Creator.

Here's Jessi being launched from the Blob

Matthew in mid flip!



"Superficiality is the curse of our age…. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people."

-Richard Foster, "Celebration of Discipline"

"Silence is frightening because it strips us as nothing else does, throwing us upon the stark realities of our life."

-Dallas Willard, "The Spirit of the Disciplines"

"Stop trying to impress people with your clothes and impress them with your life."

-Richard Foster, "Freedom of Simplicity"

Abbot Agatho frequently admonished his disciple, saying: Never acquire for yourself anything that you might hesitate to give to your brother if he asked you for it, for thus you would be found a transgressor of God's command. If anyone asks, give it to him, and if anyone wants to borrow form you, do not turn away from him.

-from"Wisdom of the Desert: Translations from the 'Verba Seniorum,'" by Thomas Merton

"One of the monks, called Serapion, sold his book of the Gospels and gave the money to those who were hungry, saying: I have sold the book which told me to sell all that I had and give to the poor."

-from"Wisdom of the Desert: Translations from the 'Verba Seniorum,'" by Thomas Merton.

"Those who live prayerfully are constantly ready to receive the breath of God, and to let their lives be renewed and expanded."

-Henri J. M. Nouwen, "With Open Hands"

"Jesus took a towel and a basin and redefined greatness."

-Richard Foster, "Celebration of Discipline"

Journaling: Wednesday June 21st - Tuesday July 5th

This is two weeks worth of journaling. Remember that I will be out of town June 28th, so there will be no youth group until July 5th.
Contact Jessi F. if you are interested in still getting together for a game night or to watch a movie. If you do get together I ask you to remember to continue being respectful to the family whose home you meet in.

Wednesday June 21st, 2006 – Tuesday July 5th, 2006

Scriptures to Read:
Psalm 141:2 Matthew 5:43-44
Matthew 6:5-15 Matthew 26:36-46
Mark 11:20-25 Luke 11:1-13
John 17 Acts 2:42
Philippians 4:6 Colossians 4:2-4
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Hebrews 5:7
James 5:13-18

Thoughts to Journal:

#1 Someone recently said, “If you do not pray, you do not have a relationship with Jesus”. Journal your thoughts.
#2 Finish this sentence: “The person I reveal myself the most to is…., because….”
#3 Re-write the Lord’s Prayer in your own words. (Matthew 6:9-13)
#4 Journal: What if…you could spend 24 hours with anyone in the world?
#5 In your own words describe what prayer is.
#6, #7, #8 Write out your prayers for three days.
#9 Journal: Would you rather make a phone call, send a text message, or send an e-mail.
#10 How does God typically respond to your prayers.

UN-BE-LIEV-ABLE !!!

OK...where to start.
I think I should say that I understand where all of this comes from. (You're asking "where what comes from?"... hang with me I'll get to that). There are "things" in this world that are really great! And Jesus is really great too. And how much better would those "things" in this world be if there was a Jesus version of them? Obviously the greatest EVER!!!!!

Unfortunately this logical thinking doesn't really play out. And you know what I mean. It's those cheesy Christian t-shirts, or those obnoxious bumper stickers, or those bad "end of the world" movies. Those things that make you frustrated your a believer.

And there is plenty of it.

Jesus told us to be LOVE in our culture, not to create a sub-culture that we easily love. Instead of promoting Jesus is a manner that really celebrates who He was and what He was about, we end up with what can probably only be called "Jesus Junk",

I think I'm going to start posting all the Jesus Junk I find. So today the question is; since 1000's of people love the WWE, what if there was a Pro Wresting League for believers?

Well here you go...
http://www.ultimatechristianwrestling.com/index.html

The Top Skylines

This web-site (http://www.diserio.com/top15-skylines.html) has a listing on the top 15 skylines in the world with some honorable mentions.
I think my favorite is Singapore (pictured here).

If I were creating the list my top 5 would probably be:
1. Singapore
2. Pittsburgh, USA
3. Guangzhou, China
4. Sydney, Australia
5. either Dubia, United Arab Emirates with it's desert or Seattle, USA with Mt. Hood in the background.

Feel free to post your top 5..

BEWARE - THIS WILL WASTE YOUR TIME

click here: http://www.googlefight.com/

I'm warning you now that by visiting this web-site you will be sucked into a world that you may never return from. Enter in your "keywords" and the battle begins. The results may not be pretty, but without a doubt there will be results!
And don't tell me that you didn't put your name in there against someone else.

-T-

Desperate for a Pop-Tart

I love Pop-Tarts, but this guy is just ridiculous.

Let this be a lesson to everyone that the lust for Pop Tarts only leads to destruction.

Click on the link below to read the article...

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635212761,00.html

NO YOUTH GROUP JUNE 14th

This is a reminder that there will be no youth group June 14th, due to the fact that several of us will be attending camp.
Keep up with your journaling and we'll meet again on June 21st.
-T-

Journaling Wednesday June 7th, 2006 – Tuesday June 21st, 2006

Wednesday June 7th, 2006 – Tuesday June 13th, 2006

Scriptures to Read:
Nehemiah 9:17
Colossians 2:13-15
2 Chronicles 7:14
Matthew 6:9-13
Luke 23:34
Psalm 130:4
Acts 10:43
Ephesians 1:7
Hebrews 9:22

Thoughts to Journal:
This week the Scriptures are key, so read them carefully, and then use these sentence to practice your journaling.
- If I could pick a nickname for myself, I would choose…
- My parents make me mad when they…
- The best way to eat spaghetti is…
- In the last month in my life, God has…
- If I found a wallet full of cash on the street I would…
- I feel anger when…


Wednesday June 14th, 2006 – Tuesday June 21st, 2006

Scriptures to Read:
Ephesians 4:32
Colossians 3:13
Matthew 6:14-15
Mark 11:22-25
1 John 1:9


Thoughts to Journal:
#1 Journal about a time when someone asked for your forgiveness…
#2 Find the lyrics to a song that talk about being hurt by someone else, and write the lyrics in your journal.
#3 Go Online… Google Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son”…print the picture…post it in your journal
#4 Read the Parable of the Lost (or Prodigal) Son…Luke 15:11-32
#5 Meditate on Rembrandt’s picture, and journal your thoughts about the painting and the story in Luke 15.
#6 Finish this sentence…
- “I find it hard to forgive because…”

"24" Jack Bauer facts

Surely by now you've heard me say something about my obsession with the TV show "24". Below is a list of Jack Bauer facts that has been making the rounds on the internet and through e-mails. I think it's funny. You might have to be a "24" fan to get some of this, but just understand that Jack Bauer is one tough dude.

- Jack Bauer believes in Divine Election because he understands what it means to control everything.
- Jack Bauer is a Complimentarian- everyone submits to him.
- Jack Bauer once questioned the authenticity of the Bible, so he brought the authors back to life and tortured them until he was convinced they were telling the truth.
- Jesus will return when Jack Bauer dies. The problem is that he keeps coming back to life.
- Jack Bauer knows whether the earth is “young” or “old,” but no one’s successfully tortured it out of him.
- For Jack Bauer, confrontation is the only form of evangelism.
- 1/3 of the angels fell when Jack Bauer kicked them out of heaven for not telling him who they worked for.
- Jack Bauer is proof of Intelligent Design.
- Luckily, the Egyptians gave in after the 10th plague because number 11 was going to be Jack Bauer. (HT: Amy)
- The 10 spies gave a bad report because they saw Jack Bauer.
- Jack Bauer is his own accountability partner and community.

Try this game #2

OK this game drove me crazy. Please don't write me about being cruel to animals.
I made it all the way to level 3.

http://www.rrrrthats5rs.com/games/dont-shoot-the-puppy/

Which Action Hero Are You?

Believe it or not, but according to this quiz (http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=92013&first=yes)
I resemble Indiana Jones.

Go ahead and post which action hero you are!

Would you like the Spinal Cord with your jello?

"Brains, lungs, rectum, stomach, feet, oesophagus, spinal cord, testicles, large intestine, small intestine, spleen and udder."

This list has actually just recently been banned from school lunches in England. Apparently these were allowed before?!

So the answer to what that mystery meat really is has been answered....Rectum!

Go to http://www.tes.co.uk/2237483 for the actual article.

Think Your Parents Are Overprotective?!

So the next time you start complaining about how you parents are too involved in your lives remember this story...

Mum worried about love life of daughter, 68
Social workers called out by a worried mum to speak to her daughter about her loose morals were shocked to find out their ages.
They had to tell the 92-year-old German mother that her 68-year-old daughter's love life was none of their business.
Adelheid Schmidt called the youth department of social services in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, to complain about her daughter Tina's "uncontrollable, immoral and loose behaviour with men".
Mrs Schmidt made the call after she found out that Tina had a boyfriend.
But the social workers told her they could not help her as her "child" was 50 years past the age limit where social services can get involved.

Story from Ananova: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1855057.html?menu

Journaling Wednesday May 31st, 2006 – Tuesday June 6th, 2006

Scriptures to Read:
Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 1:8
2 Corinthians 5:14
Mark 16:15
2 Corinthians 5:20
Romans 1:16
Philemon 1:6
Galatians 6:9
2 Thessalonians 2:14
Hebrews 12:1
Matthew 25:34-35
Romans 10:14-15

Thoughts to Journal:
#1 Choose one of the following sentences and finish it in your journal:
- The first words out of my mouth in the morning are…
- When I’m feeling overwhelmed I usually…
- When I need to go somewhere to think, I will most often…
- My favorite fragrance is…
- The best thing about our youth group is…
#2 Draw a pair of feet or make a collage of feet.
#3 Fill a page in your journals with a list of things that make you sad.
#4 Journal your answer to this question: What if God was calling you to be a missionary?
#5 Watch one half hour of news on TV and make a list of the things that would break God’s heart and another list of the things that would make God smile.
#6 Write out 3-4 of the scriptures you have read this week along with a brief description as to what they mean to you.