Archive for June, 2005
Here is the plan for our summer events. These events are optional, but they are designed to provide us opportunities to have fun together, make memories, and build our friendships.
PICNIC at Burke Lake Park
Saturday, June 25. Noon.
• BYOF: Bring Your Own Food.
• Soccer, volleyball, canoe rental, Frisbee golf, mini golf, fishing.
• County residents: no charge; non-residents: cars: $6, vans: $8.
DIRECTIONS from the building:
Turn RIGHT onto 123. Go about 4 miles.
Turn LEFT into the park.
Follow the road in, BEAR LEFT, keeping the golf course in sight. We’ll be in the big field at the bottom of the hill ON THE RIGHT.
KING’S DOMINION
Monday, July 18. 11am till the park closes.
• We’ll meet at the main gate to give out tickets.
• Make plans to get yourself there and back!
• Signup today or in the lobby on Sunday!
DIRECTIONS from the building:
Turn RIGHT onto 123. Go about 11 miles.
Turn SOUTH onto I-95. Go about 62 miles.
Take Exit 98/VA-30 toward King’s Dominion.
Follow the signs.
PICNIC at Mason Neck State Park
Sunday, July 31. Right after church.
• BYOF: Bring Your Own Food.
• Don’t forget $4 per car for park admittance.
• Look for bald eagles!
DIRECTIONS from the building:
Turn RIGHT onto 123. Go about 7 miles.
Turn LEFT onto Silverbrook Road. Go 4 mile.
Turn LEFT onto Lorton Road. Go about 1.3 miles.
Turn RIGHT onto US-1/Richmond Hwy. Go
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This morning in my quiet time, I read Psalm 107. Verses 1-3 stood out to me:
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble…”
These verses got me thinking about how it has been 10 years since I graduated high school, and 5 years since I came on staff at Sovereign Grace Church. I spent time thinking about many of the ways that God has been good to me (and my family!). There are so many ways that he has shown us his steadfast love! I was able to create quite a list, but I know I can’t review all the ways, because there are certainly ways that God has been good to me that I’m not even aware of.
How has God been good to you? I’d recommend spending time with your parents. Get them to tell you the stories of how God has shown them steadfast love, even before you were around. Those stories will help you worship God and pray thankful prayers.
“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.” Psalm 107:43.
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I got to preach this past Sunday on Ecclesiastes 5:10-20, which is an amazing privilege. One of the challenges of preaching is that you always end up with more quotes and stories than you can use. I thought I would share some of the good ones with you here:
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” 1 Timothy 6:17.
“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ ” Deuteronomy 8:17.
“We offer an unconscious comment on [money and riches] by our modern exercise-machines and health clubs—for it is one of our human absurdities to pour out money and effort just to undo the damage of money and ease.” Derek Kidner.
“Moreover, labor is easy to those of a cheerful spirit; success waits on cheerfulness. The ones who work while rejoicing in God and believing with all their hearts have success guaranteed.” Charles Spurgeon.
“He is rich—not who possesses much, but who desires little… and whose treasure is in his God and Saviour.” Charles Bridges.
And some of these quotes are worth repeating (all the rest of these quotations are taken from The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn):
“The care of $200 million is enough to kill anyone. There is no pleasure in it.” W.H. Vanderbilt.
“I am the most miserable man on earth.” John Jacob Astor.
“Millionaires seldom smile.” Andrew Carnegie.
“I was happier when doing a mechanic’s job.” Henry Ford.
“I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness.” John D. Rockefeller.
And two of my all time favorites:
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot.
“You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.” Randy Alcorn.
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Don’t forget that Father’s Day is on Sunday. If you haven’t thought about a card yet, now would be a good time. More importantly, think about how you can honor your dad. Where do you see the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) or the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12) at work? This would be a worthy use of your time between now and Sunday.
Here’s a verse your dad would like me to remind you of as we approach Father’s Day: Proverbs 23:22:
“Listen to your father who gave you life…”
I have always been suspicious that Father’s Day was created by Hallmark to make money, but it turns out I’m wrong. Here’s the scoop:
“Father’s Day, contrary to popular misconception, was not established in order for greeting card manufacturers to sell more cards. In fact when a “father’s day” was first proposed there were no Father’s Day cards!
“Mrs. John B. Dodd of Washington state first proposed the idea of a “father’s day” in 1909. She wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd’s mother) died during the birth of their sixth child. He raised the newborn and five more children on a rural farm in eastern Washington. When Mrs. Dodd became an adult she realized the strength and selflessness her father had demonstrated as a single parent.
“The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. Various towns and cities across America began to celebrate a “father’s day” at about the same time. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the concept of a national Father’s Day. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.”
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Have you seen the new website? It’s a big improvement! Props to Matt, Ted, Eddie, and Steve for their hard work.
Check it out here.
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It seems that the ideas for a youth ministry name have slowed down. This is pretty much what I expected would happen.
There may be just a few more good ideas out there, so I am giving you guys through the end of the day, Wednesday, June 15 to post ideas. Then I’m closing the post so that no more comments can be added. You can still look, but you won’t be able to add any more.
I’ve moved the You Name It post up to the top again, so it’s easy to find, and I’ve trashed the comments that were not relevant to the discussion. So, if you have any last minute ideas and you still want a shot at the iPod Shuffle, think fast!
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Help us name the youth ministry!
Why do we need a name?
- Builds us into a common identity.
- Communicates purpose.
- Provides us with an organzing theme.
- “Youth Ministry” is too vague.
What are the ingredients in a good name?
- Connects to Scripture and describes what we’re about.
- Short and concise (like 1-3 words).
- Compelling.
- Intriguing/dual meaning/requires some explanation/not immediately obvious.
- Can be graphically represented.
- Not “church lingo”.
- Not culturally driven (e.g. Xtreme Youth).
- No cheese.
Post your idea here - it will stimulate ideas in other people. Don’t worry about someone taking your idea: I get an email everytime someone posts, so I have a date-and-time record of who came up with the idea first.
But be careful: if you post anonymously, you won’t get credit for the idea!
If your idea is chosen, or your idea has the most influence over the final decision, you could win an iPod Shuffle by Apple. NOTE: You can submit as many entries as you like.
My hope is that we will be able to announce the new name on the youth retreat! One more good reason to come on the retreat!
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This has always been one of my favorites:
“My biggest problem is that wherever I go, I take myself with me.”
I don’t know for sure who said this, but I think I heard it first from Kenneth Maresco.
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Do you have selachophobia (fear of sharks)?
Don’t worry: I read once that you are more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than to be killed in a shark attack.
So, be careful where you walk and don’t worry about where you swim.
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