The question last night during youth discussion was this: Is it a sin to not help someone who you know is needy when you have an abundance?
We didn’t come to any conclusion. We ended equally divided on the issue.
What do I think?
I don’t know.
2009 is behind us. 2010 is before us. 2009 was a tough year for our country, for the world, and for this group in particular.
- Kyleigh was injured at our bowling overnighter in January.
- Friends who were dating broke up.
- Friends who were close are no longer close.
- Friends and their families left our church.
- I had a surgery after the snow trip that left me somewhat incapacitated for a few weeks.
- Our Future of Forestry concert was a bit of a flop.
- We didn’t place in the dodgeball tournament.
- And so many more sorrows (some private) that I can’t begin to retell them here.
BUT… We had so many joys!
- Kyleigh feels better.
- Karl won a bunch of awards and we celebrated with him.
- We had a fantastic bowling overnighter in which most of the guys stayed up well beyond the sunrise.
- We went to a snow trip that snowed like crazy!
- We went to 8 Day at the Beach (DABs) and 2 Day and Night at the Beach (DAB/NABS).
- Some of our friends went through confirmation and they showed publicly that they chose our church.
- We had a holiness class in which we learned what it means to be a methodist in terms of morality.
- We joined the rest of the church in the fifth Sunday fellowship. We saw the girls go down the water slide that day four at a time!
- Some of us went to SSP and felt a change in our hearts toward service.
- Many of us went to camp and met new friends from all over the county (and country in some cases).
- We went to the haunted trail and got scared out of our wits!
It has been quite a year both bad and good!
But there is no denying that times are tough.
Journalist and blogger, Francesca Gaucho, wrote on Thanksgiving this year, “When times get tough, it is time to start giving.”
That is why I propose that this year is the year we give:
-without asking for donations.
-without asking what is in it for us.
-without complaining.
Philippians 2:14 -15 says: “14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people” (NLT).
I want to see this group, in 2010, to be a light to the world. I want to see us
Things I want to see happen:
1) I want a signup for people to call everyone before youth group (on Saturdays) and remind them to be there!
2) I want us to celebrate birthdays. I want to elect a people person outside of the entirety of our youth council who will be responsible to collect our birth dates and send cards and remind me to sing and to celebrate.
3) I want 7 of us sign up to go to Sierra Service Project.
4) I want us to clean the Challenge Center.
5) I want us to help on church cleanup days.
6) I want us to prepare a meal for the Interfaith Shelter.
7) I want us to help at the rescue mission in any way we are able. 
I want us to collect socks for homeless teens.
9) I want us to be as close as brothers and sisters.
10) I want us to be a group that loves and takes care of each other as well as those outside of these walls.
We can do this!
Who is signed up?
Over-18?
Matt
Ann
Scott
Bret
Under 18?
Nicole
Courtney
Jordan
Vicente
Karl
If you would like to go and are not signed up, let me know ASAP. We are deciding on cabins right now.
Ann, our resident photographer, has been snapping away all summer into this fall. I have collected some of my favorites and posted them to our photo page.
Take a look: Photos
For the unabridged version click here: Shutterfly
We had an impromptu youth council meeting on Sunday and decided to move the Chick-Fil-A & LazerTag to November 7 in place of the game night. For more information, email me or give me a call.
- Matt
It seems that Haunted Trail was a big success. While some got too scared, most had a great time. I hope you were one of those who had a great time.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
During youth group, at 4550 Palm Avenue, we will have a birthday party for me, Matt. Ann is bringing a cake! Please, no gifts. But, if you would like to bring some chips or 2 liter or healthy snack, I would not say no to that. Thank you. 5-7pm.
- Lesson notes from 8/23/09
Failure as a Path to Success
La Mesa First United Methodist Church Youth
8.23.2009
Works Referenced:
Phil. 4:10-12
John Maxwell, Failing Forward, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2002.
“The secret to your future is wrapped up in your daily routine.” – Unknown
What is Failure?
Has there ever been anything you have failed at?
Three personal failures:
1) Nearly getting fired from my first youth director job.
2) Getting thrown out of school.
3) Not being accepted into a Ph.D. program.
Why did I fail?
1) I had a problem with a parishioner. I knew I had a problem, but ignored it. I didn’t tell the pastor of my issue. I didn’t talk to the woman with whom I had the problem. I let it fester in her for six months until she found a fault in me that she could ‘stick-it-to-me’ with.
2) When I was in high school, I NEVER did homework. I would do the big projects and get A’s on tests, but never do homework. The same happened when I went to college. The first semester went okay, I received two B’s and a C. But the next semester, when I had coursework I had not studied before, I earned two C’s and two F’s. The following semester, I paid more attention, but still did no homework. I earned an F in spanish. That placed me on academic probation. That means, if I didn’t get at least a 2.0 the next semester, the school would kick me out. The next semester, I did even less work, attended class even less and I earned three F’s and a D.
3) I didn’t do the necessary legwork. I knew that I had to find a mentor willing to work with me and I was more interested in living somewhere specific than attempting to find a mentor. I knew what I needed to do, but didn’t do it.
Segue: As I look back on these failures, it seems they all stem from one issue: ignoring problems and/or past failures. Does that mean that paying attention to failures could lead to successes?
What is your greatest achievement?
Three personal successes:
1) Finishing my master’s thesis.
2) Paying off my car.
3) Losing 40 lbs.
How did I do it?
1) One page at a time. Over six months, the time I took to write it, it was less than one page per day.
2) One double payment at a time. Each paycheck for one year, I paid a payment. That meant that when I got paid twice per month, I paid twice. I had two jobs, therefore, I might make four payments per month.
3) One pound at a time. Each day, I focused on completing one hour’s exercise (~500 calories burned) and cut out junk.
How do you get over your failures?
PHI 4:10-12, “Now, I have received much inner happiness by means of the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your concern or thinking for me; indeed, you also were thinking about me, but you lacked the opportunity to express it. Not because I am speaking with reference to poverty or lack; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”
But how do MOVE on?
John Maxwell, in his book Failing Forward, writes that “To conquer fear [of failure], you have to feel the fear and take action anyway” (p. 41).
How do you feel fear and take action anyway?
Maxwell quotes a medical journal he read: “The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it…. After you start doing [a] thing, that’s when motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it” (p.41).
Steps to take after failure:
Do:
1) Figure out why you failed.
2) Learn how not to make the same mistake again.
3) Move on… do something proactive.
4) Know you will make more mistakes.
Don’t:
1) Get paralyzed – remember to keep moving and doing.
2) Procrastinate – do it NOW.
3) Make excuses.
Remember, “The person who makes a mistake, then offers an excuse for it, adds a second mistake to his first” (p.40).
- Lesson Notes from 8/16/09
What do Christians owe the world?
La Mesa First – August 16, 2009
Matthew 25:14-30
Luke 12:42-48
FWS 2174 – What Does the Lord Require of You?
We have often talked about the role of Christianity, through Christ, in the restoration of the world. Can you remember what that means?
What does God ask of us as Christians? In other words, “What do we, as Christians, owe the world?
Jim Strathdee wrote a song we sing on Sunday mornings called, “What Does the Lord Require of You?”
He says, “To seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”
What does it mean to seek justice?
What does it mean to love kindness?
What does it mean to walk humbly with God?
Our quote from Gandhi says, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” What does that mean, exactly?
I promised I would post the notes from the lesson this evening. Here they are:
Warning: I don’t often have negative things to say about the Church, but tonight is an exception.
Much of our religion is centered on ‘why’ questions.
Can you think of a why question that we talk about?
a. Why are we here?
b. Why do we love?
c. Why does the snake slither on its belly?
Okay, why are human beings capable of evil? … Even if God is good?
Okay, why do we die?
A musician named David Bazan takes issue with Original Sin in his song, “Hard to Be.” [See Him Play it Live @ YouTube]
You’ve heard the story
You know how it goes
Once upon a garden
We were lovers with no clothesFresh from the soil
We were beautiful and true
In control of our emotions
‘Til we ate the poison fruitAnd now it’s hard to be
Hard to be
Hard to be a decent human beingWait just a minute
You expect me to believe
That all this misbehaving
Grew from one enchanted tree?And helpless to fight it
We should all be satisfied
With this magical explanation
For why the living dieAnd why it’s hard to be
Hard to be
Hard to be a decent human beingChildbirth is painful
We toil to grow our food
Ignorance made us hungry
Information made us no good
Every burden misunderstoodSo I swung my tassel
To the left side of my cap
Knowing after graduation
There would be no going backAnd no congratulations
From my faithful family
Some of whom are already fasting
To intercede for meBecause it’s hard to be
Hard to be
Hard to be a decent human being
I don’t like the answers Christianity has given us for this.
I think Winnie the Pooh has given a better answer for me. – Read. The Tao of Pooh
A fly can’t bird, but a bird can fly – Things just have a natural place and function.
A fish can’t whistle and neither can I – I just have limitations.
Why does a chicken, I don’t know why. – Things just are as they are.
Notes:
“The purpose of an open mind is to close it, on particular subjects. If you never do — you’ve simply abdicated the responsibility to think.” – William F. Buckley
Relevant Bible Verses:
Romans 5:12-21
1 Corinthians 15:22
Psalm 51:5, 58:3
