Back 2 School Youth Rally

The Tipton church held its first EVER youth rally this afternoon and evening.  It was a "Back 2 School" theme, and many of the activities and talks focused on ways the teens to take God/Jesus to school.  Many youth from Oklahoma - and a few from Texas - attended the event, plus our own youth. There were about 75 teens in all, with lots of adults in attendance, as well.

The first activity the teens were asked to do was to write down things that kept them from taking God "Back 2 School".  The most common answers were "friends" and "peer pressure".  Those things were discussed throughout the event as adults talked to teens about ways to combat those obstacles.

Several "teamwork" themed games were played.  This one involved moving a cotton ball down the group line by sucking it in on the end of a straw.  It was funny to watch!

Another activity was a spoon/ping pong ball relay.  Of course the goal was to NOT drop the ping pong ball and be the first group done.

My brother-in-law is our minister and he did an interview with one of our nephews, who happens to be a HS/JH coach and teacher.  Since many of the teens knew him from our church camp or school, it was perfect for them!  Travis answered questions about what he saw at school - in the hallways, the good and bad of teens standing up for what's right/wrong, things that he feels get in the way of the teens taking God to school....etc.  It was great!  He's a GREAT role model for the teens!! 

A side shot of the teens.  The singing was BEAUTIFUL!!!

Of course, with teen events, there must be food!  Here my son and nephew are having a little "cousin time" eating their grilled hamburgers!

The ever-important desserts!  There were LOTS!

My husband spoke on the topic "Choices".  He gave the teens some practical ways they can make good decisions as they go back to school.  They CAN take God/Jesus "BACK 2 SCHOOL"!!  Here he wasn't speaking, though.  He was getting ready to demonstrate how far he can blow a ping pong ball out of his mouth.  Teens need to know things like that, don't they??! :)

The neat part about the youth rally was that many of the teens in attendance go to camp together. This special group of girls are able to get together many times throughout the year, though they live in four different towns.  What a special thing to have Christian friendships that will last FOREVER!

The youth rally was a definite success!  Unless Jesus comes back before next year, I'm certain there will be a 2nd Annual "Back 2 School" Tipton Youth Rally!

Are You Being Persecuted?

"Come on! Don't be a chicken!"  "What do you mean you can't do that?  Why not? Are you too scared?"  "Say it!  Just say it!  It won't hurt you!"  "You don't watch that?  What's wrong with you?" "Everybody is doing it.  Just try it once."

Persecution today looks a lot different than in did for the first century Christians, but it's instigators still want the same thing:  They want the Christian to deny Christ and His existence in their life.

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me."

John 15:18-21

It's amazing to me when my children come home (from oldest at 16 to the youngest at 8) and tell me how strange other kids think they are for not saying "bad" words, for not watching certain movies or television shows, or by not doing certain things.  Thankfully it doesn't bother them and they don't have a problem with saying no or not doing those things at all.  In fact, I think they've had an influence on many of those same kids. 

I pray that their faith will continue to give them courage and God will continue to strengthen them as they get older.  Prayerfully they will always be able to resist the temptations that will come their way.  Being a child, preteen, mid-teen and older teen is hard enough, but add into that the pressures of life from school and friends and negative peer pressure, it can be down-right overwhelming!

In American we may face persecution, but it is usually not to the degree that many face today all over different parts of the world; however, sometimes it is to that degree.  Remember the young lady who lost her life for stating her faith in Jesus at the Columbine school massacre?  That type of persecution is what others in the world face and what many in the early church faced constantly and even to the point of death.

A favorite preacher used to say that he believed that Christians today should be persecuted.  What he meant was - if we are not being persecuted, maybe were living too much like the world.  Maybe we're not being set apart and being a "peculiar" (KJV of Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9) people.  I think he's got a point, don't you?  If we're not living a life that is different, we're just blending in with the world.  As Christians, we live in the world, but we mustn't ever live like the world.  We must be proclaiming Jesus.  We must be following Jesus.  We must be showing that we are His disciple each and every day.

So, are you being persecuted?  I hope so!

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven...."

Matthew 5:10-12