Let It Go

That popular song title from the movie, "FROZEN", was the theme for a youth rally we attended at the Faith Village Church of Christ in Wichita Falls yesterday.

Trying to "let go" of whatever it is that is keeping us from being in a closer relationship with God/Jesus and keeping us from staying on the straight and narrow path definitely needs to go.  But sometimes it's hard to let it go. Sometimes we want to cling to it.  It's not that we don't want to follow Jesus.  It's not that we don't want to be in close connection with God, it's just that we want the pleasures of the world sometimes, too.  We want it both ways.  We want to ride the fence, so to speak.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  Revelation 3:15-16

God would rather have us either way - for him or against him - than to have us be lukewarm and indecisive and not fully committed.  When we are lukewarm, we really aren't doing anything to help his cause, anyway. In fact, we are only hurting it. 

After the first speaker was finished yesterday, the youth had a card that they were to write on listing something they needed to let go of.  Afterwards, they threw their card into a fire and watched it burn. It's not that easy to let go of a problem, but the illustration of it being burned on paper surely encouraged the teens to at least work on letting go of their issue.

This scripture goes along well with the "Let It Go" thought and happens to be our scripture for the week: For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.  Proverbs 5:21.  Knowing that God sees everything should keep us on the straight and narrow.  A healthy fear of the Lord is important!  But sometimes we forget that He is all-knowing.  He examines and He knows, but He also loves and cares for us. He wants us to love Him for who He is and for what He has done - and we should.

Balance - Back to School Youth Rally 2013

Yesterday afternoon we had a "Back to School" youth rally at our congregation, where several other congregations' youth also came to attend. The theme was "BALANCE".

For some balancing activities, the teens had to walk toe to heel in a line all of the way down the aisle. It was a relay of four different teams.

They had to "build" a wall that using balancing skills. The bricks were brown paper sacks - one inside of another.

My husband did the first lesson...about having balance in your life. He encouraged the teens to get rid of imbalance by keeping God the center of their lives.  He used an illustration of a wheel. The center/hub has the most power. When God is the center of our lives, we have the most balance.  When anything else is allowed to be the center of our lives, our lives can never be balanced.  He encouraged the teens to get rid of filthy music in their lives, to limit social media and screen time, and to get active - to move.

Later on, my brother-in-law/our preacher did another lesson about balance. His lesson also encouraged the teens to get rid of anything that would get them off balance. He concentrated on "that one thing" that was keeping the teens from being what God wanted them to be. Everyone's "one thing" is different.  He listed different things that could be keeping teens from having balance: alcohol, smoking, drugs, pornography, etc.  Lots of things that are affecting teens today.  He encouraged them to be like Nehemiah.  

Nehemiah's enemies weren't happy that Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall.  They planned to harm Nehemiah, so sent him messages, asking him to meet them. Nehemiah knew they meant him harm, so each time he would reply the same way, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down". He knew that what he was doing was worthwhile and also knew that his mission would not be of any benefit if he went down. He also knew he would be killed.

Ken encouraged the teens to say the same thing in their life:  "I am doing a great work and I can not come down."  This would mean that this school year the teen would say no to peer pressure. The teen would say no to their "one thing" that was keeping them off balance and not doing what God would want them to do.

What about you?  Do you have something keeping you off balance?

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!