Elevate

Blog has moved

2011-05-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Elevate blog has moved its base of operations to Facebook.
Please search for Covenant of Grace youth ministry on Facebook to find more information about the COG youth ministry

HS RETREAT

2010-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION AND MONEY IS SUNDAY OCTOBER 31st!

HS Retreat – Fri Nov. 19th – Sun 21st
Where? Deep Creek, Wisp Resort
What? Fun, Games, Friends, Seminars, Worship!
Cost? $159. Partial Scholarships available if needed.

Copy and Paste this link to download Application and more information.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/Retreats/HSMtnFest.Info.Appllication.2010.doc

Montana Missions Trip!

2010-07-16T10:10:00.001-07:00

Please pray for the HS youth missions trip! We will be away from July 17 -25th.
We are serving in Montana at the Blackfeet Indian Reservation!
Please pray for Gods glory to be shown through our service and for God to challenge and grow the participants faith in Him!

Pictures will be posted not too long after the trip.

Dreaming for your kids.

2010-04-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Dreaming For Your Kids

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28

We hear Joel 2:28 in church and think about how revival needs to come to the younger generation. But, instead of concentrating on that part of Joel 2:28, I want to draw your attention to the "old men will dream dreams" phrase.

I used to overlook that part of the verse most of the time, because I was so excited about the young people part. I thought, "I'm not going to be old for a long time yet, so I'm not going to talk or think much about the old men dreaming dreams." But it is the older people in our society who dream dreams for the younger generation; and so it must be the parents who dream dreams for their children.

They Didn't Ask for This Garbage

Looking at the culture barrage hammering our teens, whether it's the things being sold to them, what is being written to them--movies and music--or the point-and-click pornography that's available to them, there is one thing we can all agree on: Our children are not the ones who invented these things.

Just about every one of these social influences, whether it's media entertainment, technological inventions or opportunities on the Web that is destroying kids, have been dreamed up by the older generation. In many ways, these older dreamers prey on young people because they have plenty of money to spend. They appeal to young people's most corrupt desires to get them to empty their pockets. But the fact is, the kids didn't ask for this garbage; they were sold this garbage by people trying to take advantage of them to make a lot of money without any thought to moral consequences. Of course they will tell us, "If people didn't buy it, we wouldn't make it" as if it's a moral obligation to sell people things that will destroy them just because they will buy them.

As a result, kids think, "I want my MTV." Is it really "their MTV" or is it somebody else's MTV that they are told to find their identity in? Young people say, "I want those pants. I want that music. I want that new CD." Somebody else has made them feel important by making it seem like the company is doing something "just for them." As a result, teens absorb and digest lyrics, values, and a lifestyle that totally and completely destroys them.

Here's the question for us: Are we not dreamers? Cannot we, the people who love God, dream a dream for the young people in our churches? Can we not dream a dream for the young people in our communities? Is it only the secular culture that has a dream for our children?

You can protect your kids from the disaster of being shaped by a confused generation of adults selling media, but it will take deliberation. It will take sweat. It will require emotional and mental engagement with your kids, starting when they are at a very young age.

Dream for Your Kids

Dream a dream for your kids. Do you want them to be entertainment oriented or service-to-others oriented? Ask for an entertainment-oriented person, and you'll get someone who is constantly appeasing the flesh and desiring the next thing to engage and tantalize them. Where are the servant-oriented people--those men and women who lay down their lives as a sacrifice for others? It is our choice as parents to determine what kind of young people we want and what it will take to produce them. As you dream for your kids teach them how to think critically and pursue growth in their relationship with the Lord. Dreaming for them does not mean dictating their lives and living vicariously through your son or daughter. Let them know you are behind them 100% when they make godly decisions. If you dream a dream and roll up your sleeves and go for it, I'm confident that you will raise the kind of child you will be proud of for many years. If you sacrifice now, you'll reap a blessing for the rest of your life; and the world will never be the same.

Not only must we be the dreamers, but we must also teach our kids to be the dreamers for their own generation. Note this passage of Scripture: "Your young men will see visions" (Joel 2:28). Our young people need to have a vision of how God could use them to change their generation and make a difference in the world. Yet, every time we allow our kids to watch, see, feel, touch and embrace this culture, they become a part of a dream belonging to someone else. The fact is, we must either be the dreamers or we will be a part of somebody else's dream.

Merely giving birth does not make you a parent. Sacrificing while your children are small, laying down your "deserved" freedoms and deeply thinking about how you're shaping your children will ensure their lifelong freedom from the chains of slavery to our culture. It's work, and it's called loving your children. It's called being a parent.

This article was adapted from Ron's book, Re-Create: Building a Culture in Our Homes That Is Stronger Than the Culture Deceiving Our Kids. Look for it at your nearest bookstore, or visit www.battlecry.com for more information.

Ron Luce is the president and founder of Teen Mania Ministries, a Christian organization reaching millions of young people worldwide. He passionately declares the Gospel through Acquire the Fire TV broadcasts, youth events, camps and media resources, challenging teens to take a stand for Christ. www.teenmania.org

Serve the City 2010

2010-03-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Serve the City was a cold day but a great day to serve! We dug in the mud, we dug out roots in the garden, we split logs and piled wood....and above all we did it for the glory of God!

Want to know more about where we served?
Check here:
http://www.thesamaritanwomen.org/

A small slideshow is on the right.
You can see the whole album here:
http://s861.photobucket.com/albums/ab175/deconbrodi/ServeTheCity2010/?albumview=slideshow

Film Festival 2010

2010-03-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

so this years theme for Film FEST 2010 April 25th 730pm is HERO!

Explore the theme of Hero. Most Hollywood films portray a sense of redemption within their movies & that comes from our natural sense to have redemption in our lives. The Bible has lots of Hero stories & lots of scripture talking about redemption. You can take a story from the Bible & modernize it our come up with your own story. Film should include a Bible verse for the theme of your movie.

Rules: 1. Clip length: 12 minutes or less.
2. Lead roles must be played by youth group students. 3. Make a film based on the theme of Hero(s) which explores one or more of the following themes:
Redemption, Salvation, Forgiveness & includes a Bible Verse within the movie about these themes.
4. Films can be made in any genre you choose eg.Documentary, Sci Fi, Scary Movie, Drama, Action, Silent Movie, Music Video, Comedy, etc.

Take a look at this clip for inspiration!

Discovering Your God-Given Purpose

2010-03-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

Recently I've heard some questions about calling and purpose. I thought it would be good to put up an article about that exact topic! As teenagers entering college and then eventually a career many students struggle with purpose and what to do with their lives. I know I did. Some of us still do. I found this article to be a first good step in exploring that topic.

Discovering Your God-Given Purpose
by Shana Schutte

There once was a man who netted three trout from a mountain stream and carefully placed them side-by-side on a thick patch of grass. Before he removed them from the water, they were like a liquid ballet in motion. Fluid. Graceful. Vibrant. Alive.
After he netted them, it was another story.
As the trout lay on the grass, they were motionless. Their eyes were fixed. They gasped for air, and they looked — and acted — stupid.

The man noticed they seemed unhappy, so he talked to them, hoping that his encouragement would change them.

“Little fish, don’t be sad. You’ll like the grass. Just try it out for a while.”
No movement. No response. No change.
A few more seconds passed. The man’s neighbor walked by. “Hey, Bob! Come and check out these fish!”

Bob sauntered over and the man explained that he was certain the fish could adjust. “I’m sure they could prosper here on the grass, don’t you?”

“Why not?” Bob replied. So he also tried to tell the fish it would be good if they learned to like the grass. After all, he liked the grass. Why shouldn’t they?
Still, the fish didn’t blink. They just lay there looking dumber by the second.

Finally, a little boy approached exclaimed, “What are you doing? Put them back! They can’t be all they’ve been created to be when they are out of the water.”
Finally convinced, the man carefully placed each fish back in the stream. After splashing for a split second, all three swam away effortlessly. Again, it was like a liquid ballet. What ease! What grace! What beauty!

In that moment, the man realized that no matter how long the fish lay there they would never adjust to the grass, and would never be satisfied — no matter how much he (or anyone else) told them otherwise. Even if the fish tried to convince themselves they could learn to like the grass, they never would, and they would never prosper. In fact, they would eventually die.

Do you feel like a fish out of water? Your prolonged dissatisfaction, God-given gifts, passions and the voices of others could be telling you that you were created for another purpose. And like these fish, if you feel like you are dying inside, listen up. It could be just what you need to push you into another, more satisfying ocean.

Listen to your dissatisfaction

We’ve been taught to believe that dissatisfaction is a bad thing, and that we should do everything possible to avoid it. Shove it down. Ignore it. Act like it doesn’t bother us. Take a pill. Plaster on a smile. Buy something new, or decide that misery is part of “bearing our cross.” But above all, don’t consider that God might be using it to make us uncomfortable so we’ll want to swim in another ocean where our gifts can shine.

Don’t get me wrong; dissatisfaction can be a result of spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-12) and not an indication that we are out of God’s will. But it can also be a road sign that He has another purpose for us. So if you’re miserable in your current career or job, (and you have been for a long time), you’ve prayed, sought counsel from others, looked for guidance through Scripture, and you’re still miserable, consider that God may have another plan.

Listen to others

One of my closest girlfriends lights up when she talks about mentoring young women. She also has tremendous business sense. I’ve suggested that perhaps God may use her to start a mentoring organization or ministry. When I shared my thoughts with her, she said, “You know, I’ve heard that from lots of people.”
Just as dissatisfaction can be a road sign from God to show you your purpose, listening to what others say about your gifts can do the same; so when someone notices or comments on one of your talents, take note. God may be trying to tell you something through His people.

There are times, however, when we shouldn’t listen to what others say. But when what they say about us agrees with our passions, internal convictions, gifting and what God has already revealed to us, it can be a solid indication of our God-given purpose.

Listen to your gifts

I’ve never liked math. Whenever I come within five feet of a math problem, I break out in hives. Numbers have never been my thing and my guess is that they never will be because God created me with different gifts. Even though I can’t do math, I can write, paint, draw, sing and communicate well. These gifts are also road signs to where God is directing me.

Have you ever considered your talents and gifts? Do you get a kick out of soccer? Are you a strategic thinker? A great listener? Can you motivate others to action with your words? Are you skilled at building things? I suggest making a list of the things and activities that interest you in which you excel. You can also ask yourself, “What’s the one thing that I do better than others?” This can also clue you in to your God-given purpose.

The gifts God gives us are like little seeds planted inside us, but for them to grow we have to use them. This means that if you can’t identify which “Gift Seeds” God has given you, try doing new things that interest you. Through these new experiences, God will reveal more to you about who you are and how He has called you to serve Him.

Listen to your passions

If I could ask you what makes you angry, joyful, excited or passionate, what would you say? Take note of when your emotions are moved; these times can be a sign of your God-given purpose.

I get fired up about the godless condition of the world. When I hear about little children being abused, I get angry. When someone tells me a story about loyal love, I am deeply moved. An exquisite arrangement of words on a page fills my heart with passion. A story of someone’s heartbreak grieves me. Talking about Christ stirs me up. When coupled with my talents, these passions point in the direction of my purpose of written and spoken communication about things that deeply impact people on a spiritual and emotional level.
Pray. Ask God to show you the things that move you and make a list. And remember, He wants you to discover His purpose for you more than you do.

Lastly, consider that your purpose is not just about you; it’s about what God wants to do through you. Therefore, if you ignore or neglect your dissatisfaction, what others say about you, your gifts and your passions, you are not only betraying yourself, but betraying God; because He has called you to a purpose and wants you to walk in it — for others and for your own joy.

Also consider that since God has called you, He is completely able to reveal your purpose to you, and He will as you diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).

Shana Schutte is a freelance writer, author and speaker living in Colorado Springs, Colo. (www.runtogodministries.org)

Combatting Cultural Influences

2010-03-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

Combatting Cultural Influences

by Shawn Alyne Strannigan This article first appeared in the October, 2007 issue of Focus on the Familymagazine.

When my children were toddlers, I installed childproof latches on all the cabinets and drawers within their grasp to keep them from ingesting dangerous substances. During the grade school years, I zealously guarded the shows they watched ("Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" was banned) to make sure they didn't pollute their young minds.

When my girls reached their teen years, I realized that health and intellect weren't the only areas that needed protection. Spiritual dangers lurked in humanistic curricula, dehumanizing music and peer pressure. But how could I create a safe environment that encouraged rather than undermined their spiritual growth?
None of my daughters seemed interested in joining a convent, so I began asking the Lord for wisdom. He reminded me that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Romans 5:20). And He taught me that knowledge is a powerful weapon in spiritual realms.

Know your kids

Play with them, and pray with them. By careful observation, you can discern their spiritual gifts and subtle character flaws. Are they leaders or followers? Confident or insecure? This knowledge is essential as you determine what environments and relationships are helpful — or harmful — to their spiritual growth. Every child is different, and what's helpful for one is not necessarily the best for another.

For example, my youngest daughter wrestled with peer pressure when she was in high school. Candyce loved Jesus but made bad choices when peer pressure was too great. Her dad and I had to monitor her choices carefully.

Her older sister Danielle, on the other hand, never wavered in her faith — or her actions — when pressured by friends. Her beliefs were tested in the classroom. Knowing this, I made sure we had lots of discussions about issues that confused her. Her dad and I were able to be sounding boards as she learned to sift through truth and error.

Know their hangouts

Where do your kids spend the majority of their time? At school? The mall? Sports practice? Youth group activities? How familiar are you with their stomping grounds?

When my girls were in junior high and high school, they decided to start a Christian punk rock band. When they actually began booking shows, I was a little concerned about the venues — not to mention the clientele who would attend their concerts. So I went undercover and became their manager. I learned a lot about my daughters, their friends and the alternative music culture, which helped me to make informed decisions about concerts and parties they wanted to attend.

Here's an important safety tip: Just because a place — be it a school, concert, coffee house — has the adjective Christian somewhere in its name, that doesn't mean it's going to benefit your child's faith. My oldest daughter, Lindsay, attended a respected Christian high school and graduated with honors. She recently told me, however, that she found it more faith-numbing than faith-inspiring. Sure, some of the students were walking out their relationships with Christ, but in Lindsay's opinion, the majority of her peers had learned the fine art of schmoozing. They lived double lives and invited her to do the same.

There are no hard rules by which to measure the spiritual influence of any given place. Lindsay now works in the secular music industry. That spiritual environment is sketchy at best, but I've seen Lindsay's faith grow as she's been constantly challenged. Most days, she shines like a star "in a crooked and depraved generation" (Philippians 2:15). She's figuring out how to keep the faith in a godless arena.

The only foolproof way to know if an environment is going to be a help or hazard is to check it out yourself. Watch how your kids respond to the pressures around them. Volunteer at school and get to know their teachers and coaches. Help with the youth group or take your kids to see their favorite band in concert.

Know their friends

As Eddie Haskell so humorously illustrated in the "Leave It to Beaver" series, sometimes the veneer of respectability can overlay the heart of a rascal. Short of hiring a private detective to tail our kids' buddies, how do we know what kind of effect they have on our children?

"Since I spend a lot of time driving my younger teens and their friends to various events, I use that car time as a way to get to know their friends," says Jill, a mother of three sons. "I try to ask questions about their families and interests. You can learn a lot about a kid's character if you are paying attention."

Parents can also get a clue about their children's friends by regularly reading comments on their blogs and MySpace accounts. Don't hesitate to check out their friends' profiles. You might feel as though you are eavesdropping, but the reality is that unless MySpace profiles are set to private, all that information is for public display.

Create an open atmosphere in your home, making it a safe haven for your kids and their friends. Encourage honest, lively discussions where young minds can express themselves without the fear of being judged. Our girls — and their friends — have learned that even if we don't agree on every issue, we will treat them with respect. Faith is built when there's freedom to speak frankly and wrestle with tough subjects — even if it makes us wince.

When it comes to assessing the spiritual impact of any environment on our kids, knowledge is power. Know your children, know their hangouts and know their friends. Empowered by this knowledge, you can help your kids keep the faith. And maybe you'll even keep your sanity.

Valentines Message

2010-02-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we talked about Girls and Guys...by taking a closer look at the Book "Twilight" and the book by John Eldridge "Wild At Heart".

Make sure to ask your kids what they thought about the lesson!
Because I hand wrote the lesson instead of typing it I wont post it today but one day in near future I will put up the whole lesson.

Here is an excerpt from Parentlink's 2009 February Newsletter concerning purity.

Help Teenagers Strive for Moral Purity

Thanks to pop singers, purity rings have become a hot trend. Many young people are publicly announcing their intentions to abstain from sex until marriage. For some kids, these rings mean even more. About his purity ring, Syracuse University freshman Stephen Chang says, “It also means that I won’t drink, smoke, or date until I know I’m ready to date for marriage. It’s a symbol of me saying that I want to live a life that’s more pleasing to God.”

Maintaining a pure, God-pleasing lifestyle in our sinful world is tough. Kids are tempted to enjoy immediate pleasure rather than wait for long-term rewards. As parents, you play a vital role in your teenagers’ moral decision-making. Not only do kids look to you as examples, but they want you to listen and be available to talk. Surveys show that kids crave moral information from their parents. Research also shows that kids whose parents had talked with them about tough topics were more likely to turn to their parents first in difficult situations.

Kids crave control over their lives, and the quest for purity is one area they can control. It’s also an area where kids can assert their individuality, think for themselves, and not follow the crowd. So encourage your teenagers to make a commitment to a morally pure lifestyle. Even if you don’t give them a purity ring, you can let them know that Jesus, who died to make them pure, expects sexual integrity from his children. Just as importantly, when we mess up, Jesus offers forgiveness and the chance to renew our commitment to live for him.

Contrary to what’s seen in the media, not all teenagers engage in premarital sex. Consider these stats from a variety of online sources:

·More than half (52%) of high school students have never had sexual intercourse. ·87% of teenagers don’t think it’s embarrassing for kids to say they’re virgins. ·Of teenagers who have had sexual intercourse, 63% say they wish they had waited. ·82% of teenagers desire to have one marriage partner for life. ·When the Barna Group asked 1,000 U.S. parents about the most important outcomes of raising their kids, the top answer (39%) was “getting a good education.” Only 4% answered “helping to establish appropriate moral values.”

Great Questions to Ask Your Kids Use these discussion starters to help kids open up about purity and sex:
1. What comes to mind when you hear the word “purity”? What are some ways, besides sexual abstinence, that people can stay pure?
2. How much control do you have over your own purity?
3. What are the biggest temptations that can thwart a pure lifestyle? What are some ways to resist them?
4. How do you think God views sex? How does your view compare to God’s?
5. What are the pros and cons of making a public commitment to purity? Do you want to take that step? Why or why not?

Valentines Dinner Cancelled.

2010-02-11T13:35:00.001-08:00

The Valentines Dinner Fundraiser this Saturday has been cancelled.
A new date for the dinner fundraiser will be sometime in April or May.

A Poetic Prayer to God.

2010-02-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Make sure you have no distractions around you when you listen to this video, you can even close your eyes and let the words soak in. Its a beautiful prayer to God.
Hope this encourages you as it did me.

Problem of Suffering.

2010-01-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

At Elevate on Sunday we did our second to last lesson on Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias. I have to admit it was a little heavy and took some concentration to make sure we understood Ravi's points. That being said I have found a couple short commentaries on the problem of suffering that supplement our lesson well.

These articles were taken from www.preachingtoday.com
This is the first part of an article that was from:
Dinesh D'Souza, "Why We Need Earthquakes," ChristianityToday.com (4-28-09)

The problem of theodicy—why bad things happen to good people—predates Christianity. Writing around 300 BC, the Greek philosopher Epicurus framed the problem this way: God is believed by most people to be infinite in his power and also in his goodness and compassion. Now evil exists in the world and seems always to have existed. If God is unable to remove evil, he lacks omnipotence. If God is able to remove evil but doesn't, he lacks goodness and compassion. So clearly the all-powerful, compassionate God that most people pray to does not exist.

This old critique has been revived by [theologian] Bart Ehrman in God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question—Why We Suffer. Theologians over the centuries have responded to questions about the existence of evil by pointing out that man, not God, is the author of moral evil. Evil in this view refers to the bad things that people do to each other. Moral evil is the necessary price that God pays for granting humans moral autonomy.

Yet while human freedom may account for moral evil, it cannot account for natural evil, or more accurately, natural suffering. Ehrman's book is full of examples, to which we can add recent tragedies such as the earthquake in China last spring and the 2004 tsunami that killed tens of thousands in Southeast Asia. (And obviously the earthquake in Haiti recently.)

Christian apologists such as C. S. Lewis have attempted to account for natural disasters by showing how they draw people together, or how they provide moral instruction to the survivors, or how they turn our eyes to God. Ehrman asks, but couldn't God have found better ways to achieve these worthy objectives? Rejecting as implausible and offensive the usual responses to innocent suffering, Ehrman has stopped calling himself a Christian.

Another person who is not a believer is Richard Dawkins. Lets take a quick look at how he deals with the problem of suffering and evil.

In his book River out of Eden, renowned scientist and leading atheist Richard Dawkins recalls a bus crash in England that claimed the lives of several children. A London newspaper asked a priest to explain why God would allow such a thing to happen. The priest replied, "The simple answer is that we do not know why there should be a God who lets these awful things happen. But the horror of the crash, to a Christian, confirms the fact that we live in a world of real values: positive and negative. If the universe was just electrons, there would be no problem of evil or suffering." When Dawkins read those words, he scoffed. He writes:

"On the contrary, if the universe were just electrons and selfish genes…blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference."

In Richard Dawkins godless worldview he is not allowed to get upset over evil and suffering because all we are is electrons and DNA who some get lucky and some don't. If someone totally embraced that philosophy then they would go crazy. We may not see people totally embrace and live it out but there are many many people and Christians included who reject God because of suffering and believe they are better living for themselves than living for God.

We may not understand totally the mysteries of evil and suffering but do remember this important truth from Augustine. "God judged it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit any evil to exist." We need to remember that God is the starting point, he is the author, he wrote the script to our lives and history and our purpose is to worship him. (Mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever) Jesus came not to make bad people good but to make dead people alive. We were dead in sins without Christs work on the cross. And it was on the cross that ultimate goodness and ultimate evil played out. Jesus suffered more than we can ever imagine and he is our great high priest who can be there for us when we go through suffering. If we draw near to him then he will draw near to us. And tragedies, evils and sufferings can help bring us back to God.

Montana Missions Trip Meeting this Sunday

2010-01-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

A friendly reminder that there will be a Montana Missions Trip Meeting this Sunday January 24th at 5:41pm for all students and parents. (In the youth annex)
Having at least 1 parent there would be great as we will be going over as many fundraisers as possible in the coming future. Including the Valentines Fundraiser that is just mere weeks away. We will also talk about our Memorial Day 5K Race and 1mile fun run fundraiser. There will be other fundraisers too, such as a car wash, etc.

To make these fundraisers work we will need students and parent help. Remember it is these fundraisers that will help lower the cost for the missions trip. Its also a great way to come together as a team and trust that God will provide.

Here is a quick clip about Glacier National Park...while in the Blackfeet Reservation we will be on the plains but the Rockies will be right there in the backdrop. We will also have a little time to do some sightseeing before we return home.

We did not have a lesson last Sunday night. Instead JT led the group in a time of worship and prayer. Next week will continue our series on Jesus Among other gods with Ravi Zacharias.

To keep you thinking on the topic. Here is a quick one page question and answer interview with Ravi Zacharias about the topic of Jesus Among other Gods.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/HS.Lessons/Christian%20worldview.Interview.Ravi.Zacharias.docx

Also remember that deadline for Snowfest Applications and Money is this Sunday!!
Scroll down blog for forms.

Jesus Among Other Gods.

2010-01-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

At Elevate last Sunday night we did lesson 2 of a short series called "Jesus Among other Gods" by Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias.

We discussed the differences between Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam when looking at the nature of ones relationship with God.

What we learned is that Hinduism is about union with God. In Hinduism the goal is to unveil the divine within yourself. Your identity is absorbed with the divinity.

In Islam the pendulum swings totally to the other side. The Muslim God is distant and far away. Your identity is totally separate from God. And any attempt to bring God closer to man to have an intimate relationship with God is sacrilegious.

In Christianity we see that God is not distant and unattainable but at the same time he is not so close that we become a God or join him once we unveil "our" divine nature.

Instead we see that through the work of Christ on the cross we are brought into communion with God. Thus we have a relationship with God that is a combination of a God who is both incomprehensibly great and yet incredibly loving and involved in our life.

C.S. Lewis puts it this way when comparing Jesus with other religions.

"There is no half-way house, and there is no parallel in other religions. If you had gone to Buddha and asked him, 'Are you the son of Bramah?' he would have said, 'My son, you are still in the vale of illusion.' If you had gone to Socrates and asked, 'Are you Zeus?' he would have laughed at you. If you had gone to Muhammad and asked, 'Are you Allah?' he would first have ripped his clothes and then cut off your head."'

Jesus is unique among religious leaders in claiming to bring God to our world in His own person and making good that claim by such powerful evidences.

(Taken from "But Don't all Religions Lead to God?" by Michael Green)

http://www.amazon.com/But-Dont-All-Religions-Lead/dp/0801064392/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263324359&sr=1-4

If you want to listen/watch a quick video on part how to witness to a Hindu by Ravi Zacharias then please watch the below clip. Its only about 9 minutes long. At the end of the video it shows you how to get access to the first two parts of this 3 part lesson.

Just go to http://www.rzim.org/ Click on USA. Resources. Let my People Think. Archive. And do search on: The Spurious Glitter of Pantheism

Snow Fest Information and Forms

2010-01-07T12:12:00.000-08:00

SNOWFEST!

Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snowtubing! A great time to come up and learn as we are going for a half day and getting group rates.

When? Saturday Jan 30th. Meet at Church at 3pm to caravan up.

Snow tubers will return by 8:30, everyone else by 11:30pm.

Who? Open to all families, students and friends. More the merrier! But remember there will be limited rides as most families will need to caravan.

Where? Liberty Ski Resort at 78 Country Club Trail Carroll Valley, PA 17320

Cost? $30 Lift Ticket only. $54 for Ski's/Snowboard Rental with Lift ticket and optional lesson. $45 Learning to Ski or Snowboard package with rental, lesson and access to beginner slopes only. We need parents signatures on the following forms:

Ski/Snowboard Renters:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/RentalForm0910.pdf

Snow Tubing Form:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2372651/RELEASE%20Tubing%20release%20doc%2009-10.pdf

This Year will be Different

2010-01-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!

So can you hear that noise? Thats the sound of New Years Resolutions being broken already! Isn't that the way it always seems to go? I know I have already broken a couple I've made to myself. The problem is I rely to much on myself and I am prone to mess up. We then feel unhappy with ourselves and with life. So how do we have happiness and contentment?

When it comes to any resolution and spiritual ones especially the only way we can follow through is by relying on our relationship with God. In life we do a great job of compartmentalizing things. We put on our at home self, our at work self, our at school self, our with these people or with those people self, our at church self. The problem is, we don't always act consistently in all the different compartments and arenas of our lives. We think we can be Godly only during quiet times and church times or with other Christian times but we forget that God is King and Sovereign over all of our life. Why not put God first during a soccer game? During work? Walking in the hallways at school? Driving on the interstate? We get so busy with filling up our lives with ultimately unimportant things that end up dictating how we feel and act. A car cuts us off, an opponent fouls you, a schoolmate mocks you, a boss mistreats you, you join classmates in cheating....whatever it is....we join the world of our moment rather than allow the God of eternity reign supreme in our everyday life. And what happens is we feel angst, we feel separated from something important. That separation is from God.

How about a New Years resolution this year to allow God to reign supreme in your everyday life. Throw up an arrow prayer during the middle of work, school, or play? Filter your everyday deeds, thoughts and environments through God. Talk to him like you talk to a friend throughout the day. Perhaps then you will have the right perspective on resolutions....for its only by following God first that all those other things fall into the right place. Be Resolved to Put God first in all things. That only comes through humbly asking him for his grace to achieve such end. And in doing so you will bring God glory! It wont be self-centered resolutions but God centered.

I think this resolution made by Jonathan Edwards is a good one to take on as one's own.

"Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God, nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it."

2009-12-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hope the holiday season is a wonderful time spent with friends and family. And that you remember the reason for the season! The incarnation of Jesus on Earth!! Who brought salvation to all mankind. Its easy to simply read over that but pause to think about it. God came to earth in the form of a human in order to be the sacrifice for our sins. Thats pretty cool. And it really is and was the climax of all of history. The Old Testament looked forward to it and now the Church looks back to it. The life of Jesus...his birth, and more importantly his death and resurrection!

It brings Gods elect back into a restored relationship with God the Father.

Watch this hilarious and heartwarming mockumentary that tells the story of an actor performing in a living nativity who takes his role way too seriously.

You can watch the clip from the blog by clicking on the play button over the video or click on this link to take you to Youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap_sM6jbBRQ

Fundraisers!

2009-11-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

This Friday and Saturday at the Mall in Westminster we will be gift wrapping inside the mall but just outside Belk from 10 am to 8pm the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Call Cheryl Beachley ASAP to help out. We are in NEED of more volunteers to wrap gifts.

Also, Tuesday December 8th is a Chick-Fil-A fundraiser. Pick up flyer at church and take to Chick-Fil-A in Owings Mills by Best Buy between 5 and 8 pm. We get 20% of sales with flyer.

Questions? Call Cheryl or Jordan.

Absolutes

2009-11-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

This last Sunday we started our series from Ravi Zacharias titled: Jesus Among other Gods.

I have not been able to put up our actual lesson because we watched a 20 minute video from Ravi Zacharias. He starts the series by talking about the loss of absolutes in a relativistic postmodern culture.

When comparing Christianity with other religions it is important to first tackle the problem of denying there are absolute truths.

What is truth and why is it important? Watch this short 2 minute clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AARDtGay5w

You can also check out this 8 minute message, part 2 of a 5 part series on youtube.

If you have time I would listen to the whole message, search on youtube, Ravi Zacharias: The Loss of Truth:

The crumbling of moral foundation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1_9WCy6syY

Why We Need Strong Parents

2009-11-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

This blog is a great resource for all things concerning our youth group but one of the driving forces behind starting it up was to equip parents with the tools necessary to minister to their youth. To meet that goal helpful articles will be posted each week.

This is an article I came across recently and its makes some good points on why we need strong parent involvement in our teens lives.

Why We Need Strong Parents by Paul Evans & Al Millergren

1. Develop In Your Teen A Personal Faith In God. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all of your might…” Certainly raising our children and developing spiritual relationships is the ultimate “whatever.” Parenthood is one of the most pressure-packed vocations a person can experience, so “all your might” is not an option, but a requirement. Tie each moment to God and not to a phrase like, “Because I said so.” Explain and model the spiritual significance of your decisions.

2. Families Are Collapsing. Families are falling apart at a rapid rate. Children are being neglected because of parents’ jobs, abuse, and divorce. Many families no longer communicate as in previous decades because of media, music, and microwaves, just to name a few. How firm is your household's foundation? Is there serious rotting among your relationships? Study the structure of your family. How much time do you share together? When was the last meal that brought the entire crew to the table? Set aside a minimum of one night per week to eat and discuss your relationships.

3. Teen Sexuality. Teens seem to no longer be afraid of diseases or pregnancy. Many girls give their bodies to the nearest “I love you.” Guys forfeit their virginity to prove their manhood, and all of this is wrapped in the heated hormones of adolescence. Teach teens the reason behind God’s rules of purity. Read Ephesians 5:3 & I Corinthians 6:19-20 together and talk about God’s desires compared to the heart’s desires.

4. Teen Substance Abuse Is On The Incline. The University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research reports that 54.3 percent of students had used an illicit drug by the time they reached their senior year of high school. Each year more and more teens become alcoholics, and nicotine & drug addicts. They use these substances to escape life, to end life, or to live up to the expectations of their peers. Inform yourself about substance risks, then inform your teen without accusing him or her. Log on to http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDAHome2.html for information and statistics about teens and drugs.

5. Unhealthy Media Overload. We are parenting the first wireless generation as proven by the comic strip Zits. Jeremy texts his mom from upstairs to ask what’s for dinner? No one has to meet face-to-face, or even voice-to-voice. Texts, Emails and chat rooms replace personal interaction most of the time. First, talk and listen. Even if it’s just to ask, “How was your day?” Second, regulate the media influences by getting unplugged. Set aside specific periods each week where the television, radio, computer, will be unplugged and use that time to share your lives. Never allow people or events to come into your home via media that you would not have in person. Also, consider blocks on your computer to keep certain sites out of your home.

6. Morality Is On The Decline. If sitcoms and teen nighttime soap operas reflect the values of today's young person, we can assume that premarital sexual activity, binge drinking, and hurting others to get ahead have become the new standards. Create on paper a set of core values for your family. What areas as a family, not just for your teen, will you refuse to compromise? What standards will become nonnegotiable?

7. Peer Pressure Will Always Be An Issue. Acceptance and love remains the number one longing of today's young person. The need to fit in can be so overwhelming that teenagers will lower their virtues in order to match a certain peer group. Guide your teen toward God-esteem instead of self-esteem. Explore Romans 5:6-8 with your child.

8. Teen Violence Is Increasing. The massacres at Columbine High School and other institutions uncovered the eyes of society in relation to teen brutality. Even more shocking is the recent incident involving the rape of a four-year-old girl by an eight-year-old boy. Increase your awareness of your children’s activities without prying. Do you know the names of their friends? Do you know where they spend their time? Are you aware of the influences that touch their lives? Do you know where they are gong via the internet?

9. To Provide A Safe Haven. Teenagers are prone to adopt an “everyone is against me” attitude. Their friend’s tend to gossip. Dating relationships dissolve. Cheerleading and sports don’t always deliver the popularity they promise. Home needs to be a place where teens know they won’t be judged wrongfully, or be expected to live up to some unattainable expectation.

10. Society's Spiritual Exploration. That sounds positive, doesn't it? The danger is that our culture is exploring every form of spirituality from crystals to angel worship. Spirituality is on the rise, but Christianity is not the fastest growing spiritual group. Stress relationship over ritual. Many methods of spirituality focus on freedom rather than faith. The Father desires followers who trust in Him, not those seeking fulfillment through their own power (Read Hebrews 11).

For a Print Out Version of this Article Please click below:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2372651/Why%20We%20Need%20Strong%20Parents.doc

Mountainfest! - Nov. 20 - 22

2009-10-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Leaving Church at 5pm Friday, Returning 4pm Sunday

Where? Deep Creek, Wisp Resort

What? Fun, Games, Friends, Seminars, Worship!

Cost? $149

Deadline: THIS SUNDAY Nov. 1st

So sign up now for two nights and three days of hangin’ out, eating great food, singing, worshipping, playing, learning more about God, relaxing, & hiking!!

The theme for the weekend is the masks we wear and you get to pick from different seminar topics and speakers.

Click Below for Application

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2372651/HS.RetreatApplication2009.doc

Montana Summer Missions Meeting this Sunday

2009-10-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

Montana Missions Meeting was October 25th.

Click Here for Access to the Informational Flyer.

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2372651/Montana.Bulletin.Flyer.doc

Deadline for Signing up, Applications & Deposit Due is December 6th.

God will Never Abandon You

2009-10-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

Our last lesson on Monday was titled, God will Never Abandon You.

It was the last lesson in our series on how to have faith during hard times.

Please check out the lesson here. Students feel free to review it. Parents feel free to read over it to discuss with your children.

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2372651/Is.God.in.Control.Keller.1.doc

This Sunday at Elevate: Praise and Prayer night!

Living By Faith in Troubled Times

2009-10-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Dear parents and students,

Every week I am going to post a quick recap of the previous nights lesson with a Word document attached where you can download the lesson's outline and questions so you can carry the conversation further at home with your youth. The purpose is to equip the families with material to further spiritual growth in the lives of their children.

We have been going over a series in Elevate called, Living by Faith in Troubled times. Its a sermon series from Tim Keller from Redeemer Church in NYC. Below is a quick recap of the introduction to the series.

The study is going over the little explored Old Testament book of Habakkuk which might sound really obscure but it is really relevant for our times today! Habakkuk is writing during a time when his country is dealing with violence, economic crisis, wars, injustice, suffering and trials. We decided to study this because it our times are pretty difficult too. We turn on the TV, the internet and see reports of evil and injustice, wars and crimes, and hard economic times. Thus having a study on how to have faith in troubled times is very important for everyone these days.

So the book of Habakkuk is a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God. In fact its a prayer by Habakkuk and God answering him. Habakkuk starts out by complaining to God about all the hard times. Hab. 1:2,3 "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? ... Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? " So Habakkuk is pretty honest and frank about his feelings but the one thing we learn about Habakkuk is that even though he doesnt understand and even though he questions God it was never a choice for him to leave God...to find answers somehwere else. He was faithfully wrestling with God. And that kind of unconditional faithful wrestling produces maturity, wisdom and grace. If we never struggled or went through hard times or if we always knew what God was up to then we really wouldnt need God. It was never an option for Habakkuk to walk away from God and he faithfully prayed and stuck to his relationship with God. The problem is we all have this assumed omniscience....we think we know how things should end up and if they dont that upsets us. We need to realize we dont have the control of every outcome and we need to learn to let go and trust. Habakkuk learns this throughout this book and we reflect on living by faith in troubled times in this series so wonderfully put together by Tim Keller.

If you would like to read more and actually download the lessons we've down the last several weeks, I have included the first lesson here and will have the next lesson up next week. My goal starting next week is to have the lesson from Monday night posted on this site on Tuesday so you can read it for yourself or use it to create dialogue with your children.

Week 1 Lesson on Living by Faith in Troubled Times. You'll have to copy and paste this link.

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2372651/Habakkuk.1.doc

Something to keep in mind about this lesson is, it may seem on an adult level but I really use it as a guide for me and definitely teach it at a high school level.

I also recommend listening to Tim Kellers sermon titled: "The Problem of Suffering and Evil" Its an excellent sermon by one of the best preachers in America today. This is part one of a four part lesson, the other parts can be found on YouTube.com or when the first one finishes you can scroll on the bottom of the video screen for parts 2-4. Its really worth listening to!

Serve The City Review

2009-09-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

Serve the City Day was exceptional!!

We went to Patterson Park in Baltimore first to register, eat breakfast and then pick up our free serve the city t-shirts. Then we headed off to the Samaritan Village. A Christian organization that is in the process of building their ministry. They are renovating two very old and very cool mansions on the largest tract of undeveloped land in Baltimore city, 23 acres! The one home was built in the 1890s and had 23 rooms and 8,000 square feet! It was the summer home of a wealthy bachelor who owned a tugboat company in Baltimore. And he only lived in the house for 3 months out of the year! Wow.

In 1910 or so the home became a Sanatorium. A house for addicts and the nervous, in modern language, an Insane Assylum! There are lots of creepy stories about the house including that they used the dark basement to shackle and use shock therapy on the unlucky patients!
Our group helped sand the walls, paint, sweep, scrap wood and lead off different areas of the house. Once renovated it will be the home for battered women and they will also be taught a vocation, culinary arts! They will use the large and expanding vegetable garden next to the house to contribute to the program and also grow the food to donate to Baltimore area missions and shelters.

The second house on the property was built in the 1910's and is being renovated for church and group events which will be catered by the women! So the Samaritan Village has some great ministry goals and we got to help out. We also had some folks work in the garden/farm and we had a lumberjack crew who carried, split and chainsawed logs! Briah K. was our chainsaw expert! Ryan H. was our machete guy and Anna P, Grace, Tim H., fearless Papa Greg were our lumberjacks.

We will be going back as we look to make a long term partnership working with the folks at the Samaritan Village. Its neat to get in on the ground level and watch how the ministry comes to completion and grow into its ministry.

Demolition Derby and Fireworks!

2009-09-04T12:22:00.001-07:00

Demolition Derby and Fireworks
Saturday September 12th!!
4pm - Dark

Everyone is welcome, friends and family.
Adults: $12 Kids 6-12: $6 5 and Under: Free

Bring a lawnchair and/or a blanket. Food.drink is available. Please check to see if bringing in food is allowed.

Presented by Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company

The Derby is on Route 30, 6 miles north of Reisterstown and 3 miles south of Hampstead.
Go to Arcadia Road and follow the signs.

PLEASE MEET us at the Derby.

We have very limited seating for those who absolutely need a ride. White van is leaving church at 3:30 pm.

More Information? http://www.arcadiavfc.org/
Click on Events.

Welcome!

2009-06-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new and improved ELEVATE Blog!!

This will be your place to view anything you need to know about Elevate at Covenant of Grace Presbyterian Church!!
Upcoming Events, Dates, Calendar, Announcements, Cool Articles, Lesson Topics, Links to cool sites and so much more.
Feel free to write responses to articles and ask questions about events by leaving comments or emailing.

This website will be updated weekly if not daily. Thanks! And Enjoy!