This reminded me of…well, me…and Chad.
Make War
This video starts out with a great quote from John Piper. The lyrics to the rap are great too. The typography lets you understand the song better.
Tonight!
Refuel's lesson theme for 2/8/12
Hot Hearts 2012 – Our God is Surely Alive
- Kristian Stanfield at Hot Hearts
This year was my very first to experience the phenomenon known as Hot Hearts. Since I’ve been here I’ve heard so much of this storied event and how Texarkana has the one remaining institution known as Hot Hearts. This year was especially exciting. Kristian Stanfield led worship. I first saw Kristian Stanfield a few years ago in a setting even smaller than Hot Hearts. It was at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas and the venue only held about 300 people (maybe). As I was watching him in that setting, I thought to myeself, “This guy is going places.” He was very good and you could just tell his heart was in the right place. Toward the end of the concert he said, “Tomorrow night we’ll be doing Passion in Fort Worth.” My initial gut feeling was right. He was going places. The very next day. I so called that.
The rest is history. He’s got a hugely popular song that many churches are singing. He is turning into the “got-to-have” worship leader in the Christian world…and here he is at Hot Hearts in Texarkana, Texas. What a blessing for our students to be able to be led in worship by such a genuine, exciting up-and-comer.
Jared Hall, the illusionist, was absolutely hilarious. His brand of comedy is smart, satirical and his illusions are very good. He was a great icebreaker leading into and in between worship.
Jeff Mangum, from the Austin area, brought the word for the weedend’s event. He was very Christ-centered and brought a great message of where the Christian faith should lead us and how we should conduct our lives, spiritually and logically.
Hot Hearts was such a great refresher for our students to worship with others in a setting designed specifically for them. I was very impressed with my first visit and can’t wait for next year.
David and Shaun (a story)
Shaun (pictured right) with David.
This weekend our church was blessed with listening to Shaun Pillay, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Norwich, CT. He preached during both AM services and the Sunday evening service. The youth got a special treat during Sunday School as Shaun came in for a Q & A session.
Some of the highlighs of that session included hearing his testimony, his call to the ministry and learning about a guy he helped to bring to Jesus and disciple named David. Here is a short retelling of that story.
When Shaun planted his church in Norwich (of which our church is the sole church supporter) he needed someone to clean the carpets. So he got in touch with a guy named David, a local guy who moonlighted as a carpet cleaner. There was large stain right in the middle of the carpet which proved to be very difficult to get out. As David cleaned it, the stain would just return. So Shaun used that illustration as an opportunity to share the gospel with David. He told of the stain of sin that cannot be removed without Jesus. This Jesus is exactly what David need (as do we all). He confessed Jesus as his Lord and Savior that night. Little did Shaun know, he was talking to the biggest and most well-known drug dealers and pimps in Norwich. David turned from his life of sin that day and is now the first deacon of the church.
There is so much more the story, especially the effects on David’s life that Jesus has had. But this story shows us, most importantly, that is not our job but our pleasure to share Jesus Christ with others. You never know who God has put in front of you for His good purpose.
Truth Series
Tonight @ Refuel we will be delving into a series on truth.
Have you ever wondered if you were doing the right thing?
Have you ever been in a situation where truth isn’t clear?
Tonight we will take a look at ethics and morality.
6:00…
Wednesday October 19
Tonight was the first night I was singing with the band. It was amazing, you really feel closer to God when your up there singing to him. I saw new faces there tonight and that is always a good thing! But I could tell people were closer and that is one good thing about not being a HUGE youth group, we know everybody and we get along. We read a verse tonight that all of us agreed on, Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Sunday nights!
For the past few weeks we have been breaking up into small bible study groups. Jr. High at the Yate’s. 9th and 10th at the Bower’s. And 11th and 12th at the Hall’s. In the 10 grade group we have been learning in the book of Colossians. And in my opinion we have had a wonderful time. We joke A LOT. But we have learned a lot as well and we are getting to know more. Last week instead of normal bible study we went to the movies to see the movie “Courageous”, which is a Christian movie about police officers. While sitting through the very emotional parts there was hardly any dry eyes in the room. The bible groups have been in an amazing time and I love that we are doing them and I hope it doesn’t stop anytime soon!
Sunday School 9/4
Doug and Amy Bowers brought a great lesson this last Sunday, encouraging our students to cast their worries and burdens to Jesus. Here we see them signifying that act of obedience in a real way by nailing them to the cross.
