New Hope for Veggies on NBC?

I always love when I can follow up a report like my previous post with one like this. When it was announced that VeggieTales was coming to NBC on Saturday mornings there were a lot of people that were cheering. Then we found out that God had been edited out. Now it has been reported that the past several episodes of the the program have not been edited at all. Thank you Lord!

Because of Him ~ Terry

Rosie and "The View" take another shot ...

On the December 5, 2006 episode of "The View" they had Julia Sweeney as one of their guests. The following is from the recap section of the ABC website:

http://abc.go.com/daytime/theview/episodes/2006/20061204.html

"Next, we welcomed back Julia Sweeney, the SNL alum who introduced us to Pat and is back now with a controversial new CD which reveals her rocky journey away from religion. This CD, entitled Letting Go of God, is in stores now and available on her website Juliasweeney.com, and today each member of our studio audience got to take home a copy."

I deeply saddens me that this kind of bias is so easily shown on television and unfortunately this is not the first time that this has happened on this show. On September 12, 2006 Rosie O'Donnell compared Christianity and Islam saying, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America." I pray that these types of attacks do not continue. We need to remain diligent with those we shepherd and disciple.

Because of Him ~ Terry

Ads Aimed at Children Get Tighter Scrutiny

All too often I see negative, negative, negative in the news. Today I wanted to make sure that I shared with you an article from the Washington Post about revisions to the 32 year old guidelines as well as voluntary actions from 10 food and beverage companies. According to the article these 10 companies make up about two-thirds of the television advertising in the food and beverage market. Hopefully this will help our country get back to being a healthier one.

Because of Him ~ Terry

November 2006 Newsletter:
Just When You Thought You Knew It All...

October 2006 Newsletter:
I think we have been here before.

September 2006 Newsletter:
I don't see it, but I believe it.

What does God think about divorce?

There are several Old and New Testament scriptures in regards to divorce. In Malachi 2:16 we get God’s opinion of divorce: "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. If this were the first reference that I read of God’s opinion of divorce I would have felt like there was no hope as I am divorced. That is why I am glad that I knew of God’s amazing saving grace first. We all sin, we were born that way. It is something that we cannot escape on our own. That is where God’s saving grace comes in. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior those sins are washed away by His blood.

So does that make divorce ok? Let’s look at what Jesus tells us in the New Testament. First let’s see what He said in Matthew 5:31-32: "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. Here he tells us that for a man should not divorce a woman for any reason other than marital unfaithfulness. This is reiterated in Matthew 19:9: I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

The Pharisees questioned Jesus about the certificate that Moses allowed in Matthew 19:7-8: "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

In order to understand what Jesus meant by "it was not this way from the beginning" we will need to look at Genesis 1:27 and 2:24:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)
God created us (men and women) in His image. Genesis 2:22-23 says "Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
This is where we get that men and women were designed by God to be married as husband and wife and not any other combinations.

It can be interpreted from what Jesus said that adultery on part of the husband or wife is an exception and likely the only reason for divorce. So who gets to remarry? In interpreting the passages I came to the conclusion that the person that the sin was committed against would be allowed to remarry, but the person who committed the sin was not.

Ultimately I think that God would have us try to repair a relationship rather than to end it in divorce. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Are there any other reasons for getting divorced? I found one in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. "To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?" (1 Corinthians 7:12-16)

Paul is basically telling us that if a believer is married to an unbeliever and the unbeliever leaves then the believing man or woman is not bound to the marriage.

Bottom line literally and figuratively, we all sin. Christ will wash that sin away with the blood He shed on the cross if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. If you want to know more about Jesus, let me know. If you have accepted Jesus then your sins are washed away, now go out and introduce someone to Jesus so they can have their sins washed too.

Because of Him,

Terry

Too much too soon The Courier-Mail

I have to agree with the author of this article, (Too much too soon The Courier-Mail) Christopher Bantick, that this is taking things too far too soon. This is right along the same lines as when Hasbro thought about introducing a line of dolls based on the Pussycats this past spring.

It is hard enough being a parent in today's culture without having to explain to a 6 year old daughter what lingerie is and why it is not acceptable as a toy for her to play with a doll that is dressed in it.

These companies are all too quick to say that they are just meeting what the kids want. I think that is a good excuse for introducing our kids to toys that God had no intention of them playing with. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NLT) says, "If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing. Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." By going along with our culture we are being veiled from the Good News of Jesus Christ. Each time watch a show on TV or go to the movies and see adultry, promiscuity, homosexuality, or any other sin glamorized then we are allowing ourselves to be blinded by Satan. Where does one draw the line on this? Good question. But until a line of any kind is drawn then what we see on TV or on the shelves in the toy department are going to become even less moral than they are now.

Because of Him ~ Terry

Does 'Talladega' mock Christians?

Is it ok to mock Christianity? I think that we need to be able to laugh at ourselves, but I do not think that we should be creating so-called entertainment in order to do it. If we do something that is funny, go ahead, laugh. By making movies, television shows, etc. that have a constant theme of mocking Christianity or that show that sins are ok we are little by little creating an atmosphere that condones that type of behavior.

Let me know what you think.

Because of Him,

Terry

PC(USA) - News Service - Rock group gives $75,000 to PC(USA) for Katrina-relief

Except for those affected, the memory of Hurricane Katrina is beginning to fade for most of us. I'll even admit to that. That is also why our youth group is going next year to help with clean-up in Kiln, MS., because it will even be further from most people's memory.

I recognize the name of the rock group, 3 Doors Down, that recently gave $75,000 do the PC(USA) for Katrina relief, but that is all. I do not know any songs that they sing or even what their music is like. What I do know is that they made a generous donation to help those that we are beginning to forget about. Thank you 3 Doors Down.

Because of Him ~~ Terry

Not All Teens Take Driving Test For License

This article caused me to think about when I got my license. I took driver's ed through the Clarion Community High School and got my certificate. Needless to say I had no idea until it was too late that it would count against my GPA. I walked the two blocks from my parents house, took my written examination which was not on a computer, had my picture taken, and was then licensed by the State of Iowa to drive.

After reading this article it concerns me that there is so little driving time for teens. My parents took every opportunity to let me and my little brother drive so we had lots of practice. I doubt that was the case for our a lot of our peers and I would be willing to bet that with the type of schedules families have now that those who get the type of practice I did is even less.
I pray that our state legislators and the DOT get a solid system in place.

Because of Him,

Terry

CNN.com - African missionaries take religion to West - Aug 7, 2006

200+ years ago missionaries were going to Africa. Now Africa is sending missionaries where God has been increasingly calling them to go over the last 20 years or so. They are going to Europe and the United States. Why? Because the churches in Africa see these areas as a mission field and they see people falling away from God at an alarming rate and they see those that have not fallen away falling from the True Word of God.

God's Word is just that and they are tired of seeing God's Word become increasingly PC (politically correct). Come to think of it, so am I.

Because of Him,

Terry

Schools told it's no longer necessary to teach right from wrong - Britain - Times Online

Although this is not a headline for something that is going on in the United States it is still extremely alarming. Teachers in the UK have supposedly been bothered by being told that they are to teach right and wrong to students. They state that doing this is just a given. There is a reason that we have requirements to do things like that. There are already studies of youth that show that truth is only relative to their situation, an authoritative interpretation so to speak.

I thought teachers were supposed to be laying the foundation for the rest of their students lives. Kids need this and teachers should be required, in writing to provide it. If for no other reason than to make sure the teachers remember to do it.

What do you think?

Because of Him,

Terry

August 2006 Youth Newsletter

TV Industry Unites On Viewer Education

It is amazing how something like changing the broadcast indecency fine from $32,500 to $325,000 can get the attention of the entertainment industry. For the most part the reason that the broadcast networks, cable networks, and satellite services got together was out of fear. Fear that fines would increase and that there would be more regulation on what is broadcast.

A question that I have is why did it take ten-fold fine increase for them to sit up and take notice? I watched the PSA (Public Service Announcement) at www.thetvboss.org and found it amusing at best. Will it be effective? I doubt it. The website itself does have some good information on it about the ratings game, I mean ratings system and it would is a good start for parents to start learning what they can do.

Because of Him,

Terry

Ind. Police Probe Highway Sniper Attacks

Having just gotten home from Indianapolis on Friday evening this is more than just a little bit scary, especially when my wife and I were responsible for getting 6 teenagers home safely. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this terrible action.

Because of Him,

Terry

Offline for a "Week of Hope"

Diane and I are taking 6 of the youth on a mission trip. We will be leaving Cedar Rapids a little after 7 AM on Sunday July 16th, returning Friday July 21st. Find out more about the Week of Hope by clicking on the picture above. If that does not work, the URL is: www.groupworkcamps.com. During this time we will be offline. Have a great week. God's blessing upon you.

Because of Him,

Terry

National Survey Shows That 61 Percent of Youths Believe That Antibiotics Can Protect Them From Catching a Virus: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Youths in the U.S. don't necessarily distinguish viruses from other causal agents of illness, and their beliefs regarding the efficacy of prevention options reflect this

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's young people, tweens (ages 8 to 12) and teens (ages 13 to 18) are raised in a world where potentially deadly viruses frequently make news headlines. In addition to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), recent public attention has also focused on viruses such as those which cause bird flu (avian influenza), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis C (HepC). Prevention messages often target youth and the success of this messaging may well be influenced by kids' and teens' assessment of their own risk and their understanding of what viruses are. Recently, Harris Interactive posed a series of questions to young people about viruses and the illnesses they cause. An astonishing 61 percent of youths agree that antibiotics can protect them from catching a virus. This result and others indicate that youths... (Click the link above to read the rest of this story)

Mission trip thoughts...

In just a few days we will embark on our first youth mission trip. We have had our share of bumps and bruises along the way. When we started this process we had no clue what we were doing. Fortunately I was smart enough to go with an established group. I just wish they would make the information on who, what, when, where, and how available before you register for the trip. Parents really would appreciate that and so would I. Don't get me wrong, since signing up they have been getting us all the information that we need as well as working with us to make sure that we do everything that we need to.

We are going to Indianapolis, IN to participate in Group Workcamps "Week of Hope." There were a few reasons that we went with Group this year, the main one being cost. With a limited budget $219 was very doable. We chose the "Week of Hope" program because we wanted to start with something a little easier since we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

"Week of Hope" is described on Group Workcamps website:

Affordable “Community Service” Camps

Week of Hope is an affordable summer mission trip at just $219 per person.It’s five days of service. A lifetime of rewards.

The Experience:
Each of these Week of Hope student mission trips offers your youth a unique opportunity to:

• Offer hope to people in need and demonstrate Christ’s love

• Serve in a meaningful way without special skills or experience

• Develop close friendships with students from other churches

• Experience powerful worship and inspiring devotions

• Grow closer to Jesus

Each day of these youth missions, your students will enjoy meaningful, interactive worship and devotion times, plus individual youth group devotions. You and your young people will have lots of chances to spend time together and connect more deeply in your Christian faith. You’ll also meet new people who will help cement the lessons learned through worship and devotion. It’s moving. It’s fun. And it’s life-changing!

The Service:
All you need is a willing heart…no special skills required! Week of Hope teen mission trips are packed with practical acts of service and love. Your youth will develop meaningful friendships as they meet the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of needy children, youth and adults.

This may include:

• Providing meals to the homeless

• Tutoring poor or struggling children

• Helping host sport camps

• Organizing a home or sprucing up a dilapidated yard

• Painting a room or deep cleaning a home

• Sharing stories with a lonely elderly person in an assisted living facility

Whatever the service, your team’s acts of kindness will be rewarding to your group, and will “mean the world” to the people you serve. This is a week that’s all about developing relationships—with the people you’re serving, with the new friends you’ll meet, with your own youth group and most importantly, with Jesus.

All of our youth mission trips place spiritual growth as a top priority—even over the acts of service.

It was that last line that was the clincher for me, they place spiritual growth as their top priority. In doing that they will get the acts of service.

Since I still need to prepare for youth group tonight, Bible studies on Thursday and Friday, the monthly newsletter, and the youth led service on July 30th I had better get to them. Make sure to accept all of the blessings that God has for you.

Because of Him,

Terry

African Anglicans slam US church as gay row deepens - Reuters.com

The debate heats up in other denominations too.

Because of Him,

Terry

Democrat Obama urges response to religious right - Reuters.com

Hmmm ... This deserves some discussion. I especially like the quote from Sen. Obama, "Nothing is more transparent than inauthentic expressions of faith -- the politician who shows up at a black church around election time and claps -- off rhythm -- to the gospel choir."

You can also watch it at: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2133032

Because of Him,

Terry

July 2006 Newsletter

Hi All,
Last month I talked about prayer. This month I want to tell you about a prayer. The following is an excerpt from the blog that I have been doing as an Elder Commissioner to the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The blog can be found at: http://217ga.blogspot.com/

From Sunday, June 18, 2006:
Last night after I left the committee meeting I stopped in the atrium to post to the blog and I ran into Rev. Russell Smith who I had meet earlier in the day because he had found this blog. ... We talked for about an hour during which time he told me about a 4-year-old girl in his congregation whose name is Regan Harper. Regan has cancer. What is worse is that the doctors are baffled as to what to do with this cancer. It is unlike anything that they have dealt with. They have prayed and the Elders have anointed her with oil. I told him that I would pray for her and that I would let our prayer warriors know so they could pray for her too. We I got back to my room I turned on the TV and after a short time I was overwhelmed with the need to pray for Regan and as I began to pray I realized that I needed to look outside and up into the heavens. I had muted the TV but the light from it, my laptop, and the laps that were on in the room were causing a glare so I turned them all off except for the bathroom light so I would not trip around the room. I shut the bathroom door until it was open just enough to let out a little of the light. It was just enough. I went to the window and tried to open the shears but they were stuck in place. I continued my prayer for Regan, her family, her friends, and her church. As I prayed I sank to my knees grabbing the bar on the inside of the window and I looked out into the night sky. To the right of my and just up a little bit I saw it. The unlikely combination of the light that I had on and the shears had created it. I saw the cross. I began to think about when Jesus healed the boy in Matthew 17. It was not about Jesus forcing out the demon that drew me to that passage, it is what he told his followers in verse 20 when He said, "… I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. All things will be possible for you." I also thought about the when Jesus healed the soldier’s servant in Matthew 8:5-11, 13: When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, an army officer came to him, begging for help. The officer said, "Lord, my servant is at home in bed. He can’t move his body and is in much pain." Jesus said to the officer, "I will go and heal him." The officer answered, "Lord, I am not worthy for you to come into my house. You only need to command it, and my servant will be healed. I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant does it. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those who were following him, "I tell you the truth, this is the greatest faith I have found, even in Israel. …Then Jesus said to the officer, "Go home. Your servant will be healed just as you believed he would." And his servant was healed that same hour. I am not sure that I have as much faith as the soldier, but I would like to think that I do. I do know that I have faith at least the size of a mustard seed and Jesus had told his followers that that would be large enough. I know that God is holding Regan in His arms and that He will heal her because Jesus has already told me that my faith is big enough. As I reflected on this time today I realized that it was not just a cross that I had seen. I also saw a white flowing robe and I believe that as I prayed last night that Jesus was giving me His undivided attention. Praise God. Thank you Jesus. Please say a prayer for Regan and her family; I know they would deeply appreciate it.

From Tuesday, June 27, 2006:
More prayers for Regan...
This past Saturday (6/24/2006) Raising Praise Ministries and The New 89.1 The Spirit presented a free concert at Marion (IA) Square Park at which our Praise & Worship team performed. Prior to our turn I went to the prayer tent to ask for prayer for Regan. What happened next blew my mind. I told those that were there about Regan and about my previous prayer for her. Instead of us holding hands they wanted to lay hands on me, that is when I say it out of the corner of my eye. There was a child size Barbie foldable chair. I immediately grabbed it and asked that we all stand around the chair and lay hands on it as if Regan was sitting there. Mary Ellen who was heading up the group could not believe it. She is the one that brought the chair not knowing why as she does not have any children that age. Now she knew. They had me take a seat behind the Barbie chair and I laid hands on it, as did those standing in front of it. The rest laid hands on me and we prayed. To say that I was moved would be an understatement. I was blown away. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit there moving around us. We prayed and prayed. I don't think that there was a dry eye amongst us. There are now at least two groups of prayer warriors in the Cedar Rapids/Marion area that are praying for Regan, her family, friends, and church. God's Blessings to you.

Because of Him,

Terry

Upcoming Meetings
July:

• Join us on the 5th for movie night beginning at 5:15 PM. This would be a great night to invite some friends, just let us know how many are coming so we can make sure that we have enough to eat (please be sure to bring $3 to help cover the cost of the meal). Are you part of another youth group? Have your youth leader get a hold of us; we would love to have you join us!
• On the 12th and the 26th we will worship and fellowship from 5:45 to 6:45 P.M.
• There is no youth group on July 19th.

Events not scheduled yet will be announced as far in advance as possible so you can make plans to attend.
The movie scheduled to be shown could change without warning due to availability.

Upcoming Concerts/Events
July
18th Hus Racing League. Youth working in the kitchen from 10 AM - 3 PM. Fundraiser
16th We leave for our first youth mission trip
22nd We return from the mission trip
30th BOOM Sunday - Operation Christmas Child kickoff

Every Monday: Youth Prayer Time, 7 PM at the old SW Target parking lot.
Every Thursday: High School Bible Study
11 AM at Java Creek on the corner of Boyson Road NE and C Ave. NE.
Every Friday: Marion High School Bible Study
11 AM at Perkins on the Collins Road NE.

Times subject to change.

A conversation with God
Hi God. This month is full of new things. We will be going on our first mission trip and ask for safe travel. Bless those that we are going to serve and also the youth that are serving. We pray that you would touch all of their lives in a very special and personal way. Thank you for the blessing of this youth ministry to be a part of an outreach to the Kirkwood students. I pray that we would also be able to reach out to the youth at College Community Schools. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.

Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his very own. - Psalm 33:12(NCV)

Teen Shares Self-Injury Secret, Tracy Smith Talks To A Teen Who Overcame The Problem - CBS News

How scary it is to feel so bad emotionally that you have to intentionally hurt yourself physically to try and feel better. This article does a nice job of letting us look at what one young woman went through.

June 2006 Newsletter

Hi All,

What if God does not answer my prayer? If you are asking this question you should probably be asking; What if God does not answer my prayer the way that I want him to? God answers all prayers, but sometimes it is not in the way that we think He should. How many people do you think pray that they will win the lottery? If you have seen the movie "Bruce Almighty" you probably remember what happened when Bruce granted everyone's prayers just the way that they wanted -- chaos. So many people won the lottery that they each received less than $20.

Is it in our best interest that God answer all of our prayers exactly how we want Him to? I do not think so. Think about when you ask your parents for something. Do you always get what you asked for? I highly doubt it. Why? Because your parents know what is best for you. It is the same with God. He knows what is best for you. In Job 30:20 Job is talking to his friends and says "I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up but you just look at me." Job is looking for answers to his current situation and is not getting what he thinks he should. Later in Job 38 the Lord questions Job, "Then the Lord answered Job from the storm. He said, 'Who is this that makes my purpose unclear by saying things that are not true? Be strong like a man! I will ask you questions, and you must answer me. Where were you when I made the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.'" God goes on asking Job many more questions. Finally in chapter 42 Job answers the Lord, "Then Job answered the Lord: 'I know that you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be ruined.'"

God hears more prayers every moment of every day than we could even begin to imagine:
Please God,
"… don't let my parents get divorced."
"… make the cancer go away."
"… make me rich."
"… I really want the new Playstation 3 when it gets into the stores."
"… don't make me go to Sunday school."
"… please make that cute girl like me."
"… please bring more people to our church."
Are some of these things wrong to ask for? No. I know that I have prayed for some of them. The thing that we each need to remember is that God answers our prayers in the way that He sees best for us. God also answers our prayers in His time, not ours.

This morning at the Marion High School Bible study a teacher came and sat in the room. She was early as she was a substitute and needed to prepare for the day. As with anyone that enters the room I prayed, "God, I do not know if this teacher knows who you are. It is my prayer this morning that if she does that the words that she hears would be a blessing to her. If she does not know you, please open her heart and mind to hear what is being said. In Jesus name I pray, Amen." I try to keep the prayer short and to the point for a couple of reasons. Many times the teachers and students that come in and out of the room do so rather quickly. The other reason is that I do not want to miss what is being said in the Bible study. When we had finished the teacher said that it was a blessing to hear what she heard this morning. WOW! Hearing that was a blessing to me.

I have also prayed for a couple of people in my life that have chosen to leave me out of their lives at this time. I used to pray that they would change their mind, that they would let me be a part of their lives. I do not pray this anymore. Why? God gave each of us freewill and no matter what God is currently telling them they have the freewill to listen or not to listen. I am still praying, but I am praying for what I know God can do. I am praying that God would soften their hearts to His word. I also pray that God would put someone in each of their lives that would help guide them back to God. Occasionally I see a little light at the end of the tunnel. I just keep reminding myself to leave it in God's hands. He will take care of it. Is it hard? You bet, but God is getting me through it.

So how should you pray? In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus teaches, "This, then, is how you should pray:
'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'"

Here is another way to pray called ACTS:
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication (asking God for our needs and the needs of others)

Because of Him,

Terry

Upcoming Meetings
June:

• Join us on the 14th for movie night beginning at 5:15 PM. This would be a great night to invite some friends, just let us know how many are coming so we can make sure that we have enough to eat (please be sure to bring $3 to help cover the cost of the meal). Are you part of another youth group? Have your youth leader get a hold of us; we would love to have you join us!
• On the 7th and the 28th we will worship and fellowship from 5:45 to 6:45 P.M.
• Confirmation meets for the final time on the 7th from 6:45 – 7:45 P.M.
• Confirmation Sunday is June 11th.

Events not scheduled yet will be announced as far in advance as possible so you can make plans to attend.
The movie scheduled to be shown could change without warning due to availability.

Upcoming Concerts/Events
May
4th Prayer at the Ballpark. Kernel's game followed by prayer and worship in celebration of the Global Day of Prayer
10th Hus Racing League. Youth working in the kitchen from 10 AM - 3 PM. Fundraiser
11th Confirmation Sunday
18th Fathers’ Day

Every Monday: Youth Prayer Time, 7 PM at the old SW Target parking lot.
Every Thursday: High School Bible Study (new time and place begin June 8th) 11 AM at Java Creek on the corner of Boyson Road NE and C Ave. NE.
Every Friday: Marion High School Bible Study (new time and place begin June 9th) 11 AM at Perkins on the Collins Road NE.

Times subject to change.

A conversation with God
Hi God. In case I have not told you lately, I love you with all my heart, soul, and mind. I know I have not told you that enough lately. I also know that I have done some things that are not pleasing to you. Please forgive for my sins. Thank you for Your grace. It is only by Your Grace that I can be saved from my sins. God I even thank you for the times of trouble that I have had because those times of trouble have made me stronger and have brought me closer to you. God I pray for that everyone would come into a closer relationship with you and that they would truly understand how much you love them. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.

Do not forget to pray. You may be thinking to yourself that God already knows what you are thinking and going through. He still wants to hear it from you. You tell your friends and family what is going on in your life, why not tell your Father God?

Copyright ©2006 180° Youth & Family Life Ministries, a ministry of Hus Presbyterian Church
All rights reserved.

ChooseRespect.org : Preventing Dating Abuse : Home

ChooseRespect.org : Preventing Dating Abuse

Choose Respect is an initiative to help adolescents form healthy relationships to prevent dating abuse before it starts. Healthy relationships are built on a foundation of respect. Respect is a choice, and when you give it, you'll get it in return. So treat others the way you want to be treated. Learn more about how to have healthy dating relationships and prevent dating abuse.

Dark Side Of Teen Dating, Survey: One-In-Eleven Teens Suffers Physical Abusive Relationship - CBS News

Dark Side Of Teen Dating, Survey: One-In-Eleven Teens Suffers Physical Abusive Relationship - CBS News

Why does there have to be a dark side? As parents we cannot protect our children 100% of the time, but if you are like me you will do as much as you can to get close.

Madonna crucifies herself in L.A. tour opener�|�Reuters.com

Madonna crucifies herself in L.A. tour opener

Do you really want your kids listening to Madonna? Still using sex to sell she has now added insults to the President and taking shots at Christianity to her shows. Our youth are easily influenced by what the see and hear, especially after repeated exposure to it.

www.myspace.com/180yfl

We are now on MySpace: www.myspace.com/180yfl!

CNN.com - 'Da Vinci Code' meets with catcalls - May 17, 2006

CNN.com - 'Da Vinci Code' meets with catcalls - May 17, 2006

The critics don't like it, go figure.

ABC News: Judge Strikes Down Ga. Ban on Gay Marriage

ABC News: Judge Strikes Down Ga. Ban on Gay Marriage

With 76% voting for this measure one would be hard pressed to believe that it will not make it back on the ballot in November reworded to meet the state's single subject rule.

The question I have is why was this not caught prior to the vote?

Columbine Video Game Upsets Relatives

Columbine Video Game Upsets Relatives

And why would it not. Our society is becoming increasingly
desensitized to violence which is a sad comment. Should dialogue be open about school shootings? Absolutely. Should it be done through a video game? I think not.

BoycottFord.com - Sponsored by American Family Association

BoycottFord.com - Sponsored by American Family Association

Ford "Proves" Commitment To Homosexual Agenda. Let your conscience be your guide.

ABC News: Does Shock Sell?

ABC News: Does Shock Sell?

What do you think? How far is too far?

ABC News: "Da Vinci Craze" Thrives Thanks to Cardinal, Judge

ABC News: "Da Vinci Craze" Thrives Thanks to Cardinal, Judge

Like the book or the movie need anymore attention. We need to be proactively educating people so they do not fall for this work of fiction. Too many people have fallen away as it is.

ABC News: Is Fatigue to Blame for Low SAT Scores?

ABC News: Is Fatigue to Blame for Low SAT Scores?

Get some sleep already. The SATs are too important.

FOXNews.com - 'The Da Vinci Code'A Positive for Christianity - FOX Fan

FOXNews.com - 'The Da Vinci Code'
A Positive for Christianity - FOX Fan

This is just interesting reading. Check it out.

FOXNews.com - Paxil May Increase Suicide in Teens, FDA and GlaxoSmithKline Warn - Health News | Current Health News | Medical News

FOXNews.com - Paxil May Increase Suicide in Teens, FDA and GlaxoSmithKline Warn - Health News Current Health News Medical News

Odd ... the antidepressant Paxil may raise the risk of suicide in teens. That is just scary. Are doctors simply choosing to treat the result or are they trying to treat the cause? What do you think?

Many Youths Disregard Their Virginity Pledges, Harvard Study Says - Los Angeles Times

Many Youths Disregard Their Virginity Pledges, Harvard Study Says - Los Angeles Times

The Harvard study is based on 14,000 "subjects" that were first interviewed in 1995 and then again in 1996 and 2001. In all reality that makes the data 11+ years old. Abstinence programs have come along way since 1995. I would never be so presumptuous as to state that everyone that goes signed a virginity pledge kept that pledge.

What I would question is the sincerety of the youth in the programs. Are the people leading the programs getting everyone's buy-in? Are these even programs or is it just the youth reading and signing a pledge? What kind of follow-up is being done? Are the parents engaged in the programs? Do these youth have peer accountability partners that can help them? Parents and peers have more influence on these youth than those who are leading the courses. It is not just the teens that need to be going through abstinence programs.

If the program is actually grounded in Biblical truth with parental involvement and not just a sheet of paper it has been my experience that the youth stay committed to their pledge.

Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse disputes the Harvard University report. Check out what she has to say at: "Another Hit at Abstinence"

KCRG - News - State Confirms MS 13 Gang in Cedar Rapids

KCRG - News - State Confirms MS 13 Gang in Cedar Rapids

After receiving the email that is mentioned in this report I began searching for information and came up blank. Then last night I saw the report on the news. Regardless of the size of this gang in Cedar Rapids it is still something that we need to be aware of so we can protect our families.

Judge Orders San Diego to Remove Cross

Judge Orders San Diego to Remove Cross

For 35 years a 29 foot cross honored Korean War veterans. Then in 1989 one veteran, yes just one, decided to oppose it being there. Now he has finally found a judge that agreed and the City of San Diego has been ordered to remove it. Never mind that in 2005 75% of voters approved a measure to transfer the property to the federal government which would have saved the cross. That too was blocked by a judge.

Do not get me wrong, everone deserves a say in what happens in this country. Just remember, it was one person that got prayer removed from public schools. What is next?

Center for Youth and Family Ministry

Center for Youth and Family Ministry

Interesting. The question is how do we keep them from leaving the faith?

CNN.com - Teens accused of Columbine-style plot - Apr 21, 2006

CNN.com - Teens accused of Columbine-style plot - Apr 21, 2006

Violent video games, MySpace use ... Five teenage boys in a school of only 270 in a touwn of 600. Size no longer matters, small towns are just as susceptible to violence as larger cities. How did these young men fall through the cracks? Everyone is blaming everyone when this type of thing happens. Parents blame teachers. Teachers blame parents. Who is at fault? Violence is all over the current culture. After you see it for so long many either become numb to it or they accept it.

Nearly All Sodas Sales to Schools to End - CBS News

Nearly All Sodas Sales to Schools to End - CBS News
Say what you will about President Bill Clinton, but I have to give the William J. Clinton Foundation good marks for partnering with the American Heart Association to get this deal done. The major players in the soft drink industry are on board.

This was going to happen sooner or later as state legislatures and local school boards put restrictions on the sale of soda.

Will this stop childhood obesity ... probably not, but it should slow it down in the short run. This is more about modifying behaviors. When I was youth (and not it was not the stone age as some of the youth group members might suggest) pop was a treat, not an everyday beverage.

Yes, I drink my Diet Mountain Dew every day. It is time for me to take a look at cutting down too.

ABC News: Message Boards Could Be Encouraging Cutting

ABC News: Message Boards Could Be Encouraging Cutting

In this report kids looking for help found news ways to cut. If you know someone who is cutting talk to them about getting one on one help instead of on the internet.

May 2006

Hi All,

Where did April go? It has been a busy month and as it gets closer to summer, the faster it will seem to go. To be honest I am a little behind this month. This past weekend I took part in Chrysalis Flight #26 at the Altoona United Methodist Church. What a transforming weekend it was. There were about 70 teenagers there and it was neat to watch them grow in Christ. What is Chrysalis?
“That growth stage between caterpillars and butterflies is called a chrysalis. On the surface it may not look like much is happening, but the delicate chrysalis process changes the fuzzy caterpillar into an awesome butterfly with wings of intricate designs and intense colors. The chrysalis process symbolizes how Christ can transform you into something beyond your dreams. It happens when you grow beyond yourself, opening your life to Jesus’ power and love.

Chysalis is the name chosen for the youth version of The Walk to Emmaus, its parent movement, because it symbolizes the spiritual growth that is essential between adolescence and adulthood. That growth is as crucial for youth as the cocoon is for the caterpillar. It is that precious time of nurturing a person’s faith for discipleship.

This three-day spiritual renewal time provides an opportunity for you to learn more about faith, to experience Christian love and support, and to make new faith commitments. The point is to inspire, challenge and equip you for a closer friendship with Christ and for Christian action at home, church, school, and community.

Chrysalis lifts up a way for you to enjoy Christ’s friendship and love and to be Christ’s friend and partner in the world. The three days focus on God’s grace, your experience with Christ as friend, what it means to be the body of Christ, and giving love to a needy world.”
If I were you I would be probably be saying ok, but what happens on a Chrysalis flight? It is three days of worship, prayer, talks given by other teens and adults, fellowship, creative expression, games, singing, and discussion. The worship is like nothing that you have probably ever experienced. It is relevant and done in a style meant for teenagers. And the music, well it is high energy and fun. The theme song for Flight #26 was “Foreverandever, etc.” by the David Crowder Band. Because the guys and girls are split for most of the weekend I am not sure what they sang, but “Big House” by Audio Adrenaline was the song of choice for the guys. I almost forgot you get to eat and eat and eat. The food doesn’t stop until it is time to go home. There is always plenty to eat at mealtime and there is always plenty of snack food and pop in between meals.

Sound interesting? Chrysalis Flight #27 is September 2-4, 2006 and will be held in Waterloo, IA at Kimball Ave. United Methodist Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church. If you are a sophomore in high school to a sophomore in college and would like more information or want to go on the next flight, please let me know.

More than likely by the time that you are reading this the 30 Hour Famine and BOOM Sunday will have already taken place and if you missed it, you missed a lot of fun! Mothers’ Day is just around the corner … hint, hint. Make sure to remember your Mom on May 14th. I know she will appreciate it.

Because of Him,

Terry

Upcoming Meetings
May:

• Join us on the 3rd for movie night beginning at 5:15 PM for "Pride and Prejudice." This month's movie is about 140 minutes long so we should be done by 7:45 PM. This would be a great night to invite some friends, just let us know how many are coming so we can make sure that we have enough to eat (please be sure to bring $3 to help cover the cost of the meal). Are you part of another youth group? Have your youth leader get a hold of us; we would love to have you join us!
• The Crave is back and will be on the 10th from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. at Roosevelt Middle School. Parents, drop off will be at Roosevelt Middle School at 6 P.M. with pick-up at 8:30 P.M. (it may be later for pick-up if the event goes over schedule).
• On the 17th and the 31st we will worship and fellowship from 5:45 to 6:45 P.M.
• Confirmation meets on the 17th and the 31st from 6:45 – 7:45 P.M. On the 3rd the confirmation class will participate in movie night (see above for movie night details).

Events not scheduled yet will be announced as far in advance as possible so you can make plans to attend. The movie scheduled to be shown could change without warning due to availability.

Upcoming Concerts/Events
May
10th the Crave at Roosevelt Middle School
13th Hus Racing League. Youth working in the kitchen from 10 AM - 3 PM. Fundraiser
13th Chrysalis Hoot (Altoona United Methodist Church)
14th Mothers’ Day
24th Annual Hus Choir Concert - NO YOUTH GROUP
29th Memorial Day

Every Monday: Youth Prayer Time, 7PM at the old SW Target parking lot.
Every Thursday: High School Bible Study, 4 - 6 PM at the Panera Bread on Collins Rd.
Every Friday: Marion High School Bible Study, 7:30 - 8 AM.

Times subject to change.

A conversation with God
Hi God. It has been a long month for all of us Lord. All the homework, the tests, school activities, church, youth group, Sunday school and more. Be with us God so that we do not forget to spend time with you. We lift up Your name in praise as we thank you for helping us with that homework, the tests, school activities, church, youth group, Sunday school and so very much more. Lord, be with us as we end this school year and help us to make the right choices in all that we do.
Christ be in my life and in my living (place hands over chest)
Christ be in my heart and in my loving (hands over heart)
Christ be in my mouth and in my speaking (hands over mouth)
Christ be in my eyes and in my seeing (hands over eyes)
Christ be in my ears and in my hearing (hands over ears)
Christ be in my mind and in my thinking (hands on head)
In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.

ABC News: 2 Teens Charged in Attack at Texas Party

ABC News: 2 Teens Charged in Attack at Texas Party

Whether this is determined to also be a hate crime or not, what fuels such incredible anger in people?

Why were there no adults at supervising these kids?

Whether or not someone wants to believe it or not I think that alot of the problems that we are seeing in today's youth can be directly related to the thousands of images of sex and violence that they are exposed to every year. In a resource from Ron Luce (Aquire the Fire, Battle Cry) he tells us that MTV broadcasts 3000+ soft porn images every week. From the Associated Press, "Update 2:Viacom 2Q Results Rise On Cable, TV" on the Web at www.Forbes.com/07/22/04, 10:47 AM Ron uses this quote, "They made $6.84 billion off of you and your friends in on year alone." In this quote is he talking about how much the entertainment industry, Viacom specifically, made off teenagers. What reason do they have to stop?

We do not have cable TV in our home. At first the reason was money. We are not home enough to justify $40-$50 a month for cable. We still do not have cable but the reason is not so much money anymore, it is all the trash that is on TV.

What are you doing in your home?

Family Dinners: Much More Than A Meal - CBS News

Family Dinners: Much More Than A Meal - CBS News

I remember eating meals at the table when I was a kid. It was relaxing until Mom made my brother and I do the dishes, then it had a tendency to look like a boxing or wrestling match.

It amazes me how busy we have become. Last night we did sit down for dinner as a family before rushing off to other things. It definitely was better for us than some fast food place. I do not know about you, but when we eat at home you can almost guarantee that we will drink milk. If we go out it is pop. We usually have a salad at home too. The part I like about that is that I do not have special order it without tomatoes - I am free put what ever I want on it and amazingly enough we always have what I want.

The one thing that is not different whether we eat out or at home is that every meal begins by giving thanks to God for the blessings that he has given us.

As this article suggests, we just need to slow down. We have so many choices and like everyone else we try to get them all in. We need to retrain ourselves and train our kids to be picky about the extracurricular activities that we choose. Pick what is most important and let the rest go. Easy to say, hard to do but we have to try.

Scaring Kids Straight, Off Methadone - CBS News

Scaring Kids Straight, Off Methadone - CBS News

One way or another we need to keep kids off drugs. This reminds me of the "Scared Straight" series several years ago. It worked then and it works now, so why are we not seeing more of this?

180­­° Youth & Family Life Ministries Xanga Site

180­­° Youth & Family Life Ministries Xanga Site

180­­° Youth & Family Life Ministries is now live on xanga. Check us out!

FT.com - MySpace acts to calm teen safety fears

FT.com - MySpace acts to calm teen safety fears

This is refreshing to see that MySpace is taking the concerns of youth and parents to heart and doing something about it. I sincerely hope that they continue to do this and that it was not just a one time thing.

ABC News: 'Jesus Dynasty' Author Asks: Were There Two Messiahs?

ABC News: 'Jesus Dynasty' Author Asks: Were There Two Messiahs?

I find it interesting that there is so much being done to determine whether or not Jesus is real. You do not see this same intensity, if any, in trying to prove/disprove other religions.

ABC News: Did Jesus Ask Judas to Betray Him?

ABC News: Did Jesus Ask Judas to Betray Him?

Hmmm. I think I will just let this one simmer for awhile.

Did Jesus Walk On Ice? - CBS News

Did Jesus Walk On Ice? - CBS News

No, Jesus walked on water. Pretty easy one to answer. I wonder if Professor Nof has ever walked on ice on a sidewalk let alone a patch floating on water in the middle of a storm.

Even though I wish he would put his time to better use, the people (mainly Christians) that are sending him hate mail/email need to get their attitudes in check. Do they really believe that Jesus would have us behave that way? I think not. Instead we should be praying that Professor Nof comes to know Christ.

And I thought the fish story was a fishy story...

One Heck Of A Fish Story - CBS News

One Heck Of A Fish Story - CBS News

I nearly choked on my coffee this morning when "The Early Show" on CBS aired the story that is linked above. Possible missing link was even used in the description of the story. Even though all they have are the head and a little bit more they have already created a model of what the "Tiktaalik roseae" looked like. Looks like a forerunner to the crocodile or an alligator to me. It seems like they just keep stretching and stretching to prove that evolution is real.

April 2006

Hi All,

There are two constants in the youth ministry at Hus Church. The first constant is what we say in the "Apostles' Creed":
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteh on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. Amen.
*The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The second is that there is always change. In just the past few weeks we have made some significant changes with the youth group. Movie night is now on the first Wednesday of each month. This change has several benefits of which is that it will be easier to invite friends for pizza and a movie. At the same time we changed the way you do youth group on Wednesday nights. No longer will the youth have to try and will an hour with this or that. Sometimes "that" was characterized by the youth as boring lessons (we noticed when the kids started to fall asleep). Beginning on March 26th we started having a youth worship service. This was after months and months of trying to figure out how to do a youth worship service. Unfortunately I was trying to hard to do it 'big' instead of keeping it simple. So what does the youth service look like? We sing (as loud as we want) to CDs of different Christian artists with a short message (about 5 minutes) mixed in. Hopefully this is the way to go. If not, we will try something different. Change does not make us failures; it makes us smarter as we move forward.

In Luke 12:54-59 Jesus talks about change:
54Then he turned to the crowd: "When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, "Storm's coming'--and you're right. 55And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, "This'll be a hot one'--and you're right. 56Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don't tell me you can't tell a change in the season, the God-season we're in right now. 57"You don't have to be a genius to understand these things. Just use your common sense, 58the kind you'd use if, while being taken to court, you decided to settle up with your accuser on the way, knowing that if the case went to the judge you'd probably go to jail 59and pay every last penny of the fine. That's the kind of decision I'm asking you to make." (The Message)

If current trends continue only 4% of the current generation, the Millenials, will be Evangelical Christians. In just a few short years the Millenials will be our business owners, teachers, government leaders, etc. So, why should we care? Have you ever considered what it looks like to have only 4% Evangelical Christians? What does that look like? (from Ron Luce's book "BattleCry for a Generation.")
 Netherlands Legalized Euthanasia.
 Pastor arrested for preaching Biblical perspective on homosexuality.
 Scotland 14 years old consenting age
 Nudity in newspapers in England

In the new book "The Last Christian Generation," Josh McDowell opens the first chapter with:
"I realize the title of this book may be shocking. But the decision to call this The Last Christian Generation was not made lightly nor was it done for sensationalism. I sincerely believe unless something is done now to change the spiritual state of our young people--you will become the last Christian generation!"

George Barna notes that youth are searching for something spiritual. Great! But where are they getting their information? They are getting their worldview from TV, the radio. I looked at the latest Target ad in the Sunday paper and was shocked to see so many CDs for sale with the "Parental Advisory Explicit Content" label on them.

How well do we know our kids? Do you know what your kids are watching and listening to? Are they online and posting to Xanga, Facebook, or MySpace? What are they posting? Can you name any of their friends? What is their favorite color? Do your kids believe in God? Do they believe that Jesus rose from the dead?

Are all religions more or less alike and lead to heaven? I could go on and on. Because this is so important I am currently working on a youth culture workshop. If you are interested or want to help, please let me know. There is a lot that parents do not know and need to.

Because of Him,

Terry

Upcoming Meetings
April:
 Join us on the 5th for movie night beginning at 5:15 PM for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." This month's movie is about 140 minutes long so we should be done by 7:45 PM. This would be a great night to invite some friends, just let us know how many are coming so we can make sure that we have enough to eat (please be sure to bring $3 to help cover the cost of the meal). Are you part of another youth group? Have your youth leader get a hold of us; we would love to have you join us!
 On the 12th, 19th, and the 26th we will worship and fellowship from 5:45 to 6:45 P.M.
 Confirmation meets on the 12th, 19th, and the 26th from 6:45 – 7:45 P.M. On the 5th the confirmation class will participate in movie night (see above for movie night details).
Events not scheduled yet will be announced as far in advance as possible so you can make plans to attend.
The movie scheduled to be shown could change without warning due to availability.

Upcoming Concerts/Events
April
2nd Youth serving at the Sunday Evening Meal (1st Presbyterian Church) from 4 - 6 PM.
8th Hus Racing League. Youth working in the kitchen from 10 AM - 3 PM. Fundraiser
16th Youth serving Easter Sunrise Breakfast
21st - 23rd Chrysalis Flight #26 (Altoona United Methodist Church)
28th - 29th 30 Hour Famine
30th BOOM Sunday

Every Monday: Youth Prayer Time, 7PM at the old SW Target parking lot.
Every Thursday: High School Bible Study, 4 - 6 PM at the Panera Bread on Collins Rd.
Every Friday: Marion High School Bible Study, 7:30 - 8 AM.

Times subject to change.

A conversation with God
Hi God. Lord God, we need you. Each day may our words and actions be yours. Help us to be in Your Word, the Bible everyday. Lord be in our lives each and every day, through good and bad. Father we know that even in bad times you are with us and that it is through bad times that we draw closer to you.
Christ be in my life and in my living (place hands over chest)
Christ be in my heart and in my loving (hands over heart)
Christ be in my mouth and in my speaking (hands over mouth)
Christ be in my eyes and in my seeing (hands over eyes)
Christ be in my ears and in my hearing (hands over ears)
Christ be in my mind and in my thinking (hands on head)
In Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.

"Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Anonymous posting to a Christian mailing list.

March 2006

Hi All,

Through out the course of a month I have many ideas of what I should write about, funny thing is I never do write about them. Sometimes I will get them written down and sometimes not. Interestingly enough God usually has a different message that he wants me to send and this month is no different.

The latest chapter in the "Pure Excitement" study that we are doing with the middle school was called "Get Growing." It starts out comparing our faith to a roller coaster ride. Sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down. The first question, "What part of the roller coaster are you on right now? Are you climbing closer to the Lord, or do you feel you are waiting at the bottom?" I was not surprised at the response, complete silence. Most adults would give you the same response. What really got the discussion going is when the kids were asked what is the first commercial that comes to mind. This continued through a discussion of movies, television shows, music, and magazines. It was observed that most of us watch television everyday as well as listening to music, reading magazines etc. Then it was asked how often they read the Bible. The answers were as varied as the kids. From reading during Sunday school and confirmation to once every couple of weeks to not in a couple of years. That begged the most important question, why? "It is hard to understand." "It does not make sense." "Too many thines and thous." To illustrate this, let's look at one of the most well known verses in the Bible, John 3:16:
American Standard Version (ASV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Amplified Bible (AMP) For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
Contemporary English Version (CEV) God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
English Standard Version (ESV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
King James Version (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
New King James Version (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
21st Century King James Version (KJ21) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
New International Version (NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
New Life Version (NLV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God's Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever.
New Living Translation (NLT) "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
The Message (MSG) "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

Who knew there were so many versions of the Bible? Of just the King James Bible? There are lots more than this. It was not that long ago that the King James Version was considered by the majority to be the inspired word of God and that choosing a Bible was mainly about how it looked physically. What everyone needs to do is to find one that fits him or her the best. How to go about that can seem like a major undertaking. There are several resources available in doing this. If you have online access you can use a search site like Google and type in "choosing a Bible" and you will get several articles and websites that can help you. One of those is from Zondervan Church Source. Another option is to go to one of the local Christian bookstores and they will be glad to assist you. Want to compare several versions side by side? Go to BibleGateway.com and and you can compare up to 5 versions at a time. Another thing to remember is what you want to get out of a particular version. The Message and The Message Remix are wonderful for just sitting down and reading through like you would a book. Others versions have been adapted for reading through, others to be used as a devotional, to study, and some have been written with references on how to apply the Bible to your daily life. But wait, they are broken down even further. Is your choice for anyone, or is it more specific (i.e. for teens, men, women, children, etc.).

The most important thing about the Bible should always be that you are reading it on a regular basis. There are several reading plans available to help you with this. If you need help with any part of this process, let us know, would love to help you out. God's message to me this month is to work to help the youth find out more about this process and to find a Bible that they can understand and that is interesting.

Because of Him,

Terry

A conversation with God
Hi God. We often forget that we are Christians every day, not just on Sunday. Lord help us to be Christians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. One way You help us is through reading Your Word, the Bible everyday. Another is through a prayer that is called the Christ Prayer which I will close this prayer with:
Christ be in my life and in my living (place hands over chest)
Christ be in my heart and in my loving (hands over heart)
Christ be in my mouth and in my speaking (hands over mouth)
Christ be in my eyes and in my seeing (hands over eyes)
Christ be in my ears and in my hearing (hands over ears)
Christ be in my mind and in my thinking (hands on head)
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

February 2006

Hi All,

The following is from the annual report for 2005. It is about where we have been and where we are headed for 2006. Let's see where we have been since January 2005.

1) Sunday Evening Meals Program. On the first Sunday of every other month you can find members of Hus Church Youth Group at the First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids helping to serve dinner to the hungry in our community. Volunteers from our congregation, other churches, youth groups, and civic organizations also help with the Sunday Evening Meals Program. Beginning at 4 PM and going until 6 PM, about 8 to 10 volunteers help setup, serve, and then clean up. This has been a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and to help those that are in need.
2) Painted the Youth room - 01.29.2005
3) Items purchased and donated for the Youth room. There are now two sofas, two chairs, two lamps, a love seat, and a futon. A microwave, mini-refrigerator, stereo, TV, and DVD/VHS player.
4) Bake sale at the Pancake Breakfast - 03.12.2005.
5) Served Easter breakfast - 03.27.2005.
6) We took the youth to several Christian concerts in 2005. Welcome to Diversity concert - 05.04.2005. Relient K concert - 11.10.2005. Casting Crowns concert - 12.03.2005. Onefest - 12.28-29.2005 (A 24 hour Christian concert featuring local and national Christian artists.)
7) Terry attended "The Core" training at the Ankeny Presbyterian Church - 04.23.2005. What is "The Core?" "The Core" is a half-day training for youth pastors and volunteers developed and facilitated by Youth Specialties. There were three sessions in the 2005 version: (1) Rethinking the American Teenager (2) Responding to the Unique Needs of Girls and Guys (3) Reclaiming the American Teenager
8) Terry gets hired full-time on 08.15.2005.
9) Youth helped paint in preparation for Rotational Sunday school on 09.03.2005. 10) The second and third Wednesdays of each month have been given specific designations. Mission night is the 2nd Wednesday and movie night is the 3rd Wednesday. 1
11) Doug Page started Parent's Night Out with the first one on 10.07.2005. Parent's Night Out was held on the first and third Fridays of each month through the end of the year. We are currently evaluating the program and will be reintroducing it in 2006.
12) On October 4th Terry got plugged in to the Youth Pastor Roundtable and the Youth Ministry Fellowship. The Fellowship is a time to network with others involved in youth ministry as well as community organizations that work with youth. It is a time of sharing of ideas, programs, lessons, etc. Fellowship meets on the first Tuesday of each month over lunch at New Covenant Bible Church. The Roundtable is smaller than Fellowship and is designed as a prayer group whose members focus on youth ministry as a whole in Cedar Rapids. It is a time of training, prayer, and planning for the crave. The crave is a quarterly community youth worship service. The first one is planned for February 15th at the Salvation Army gymnasium (this will replace youth group and confirmation on these nights). The Roundtable meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Salvation Army beginning at 8 AM. Training has included: Going through the 2005 "The Core" training materials. A day long seminar on 12.03.2005. Pastor Ron Connerly of New Beginnings Church led the training called "The Vision of the Leader" by Bruce Wilkinson (Best-selling Author of "The Prayer of Jabez.")
13) Marion High School Bible Study with 23 youth began on 10.28.2005. They are going through a 10 week LifeGuide® Bible Study on Friendship
14) Bible study for High School youth began at Panera Bread. We are currently on our third study, which is a 12 week LifeGuide® Bible Study called "Job, Wrestling with God." Two prior studies were done. Both are from "Discipleship Journal" which is a publication of "The Navigators." The first one was "Invitation to Oneness. The Trinity provides a model for unity." The second was "Everyday Life in the Body."
15) Leaf raking - 10.29.2005 and 11.05.2005
16) First B.O.O.M. Service - 10.30.2005
17) Other fundraising done in 2005: "God's Creation" calendar sales (we still have a few left) and bottle & can redemption.
18) Planning for the 2006 Youth Summer Mission trip began. We will be going through Group Workcamps (a division of Group Publishing which published the Faithweaver Sunday School curriculum that we have used in previous years.) to Kingston, TN and participating in their "Week of Hope."
19) Hus Die-cast racing is coming to Hus Church on 02.11.2005. Planning began in the fall and continued through the end of the year. Some of us have grown up racing the die-cast cars on the old orange track of yesteryear, and now, we carry on that tradition on the new orange and black tracks, bringing our children and the community's children into the fold. What better way to spend a Saturday than with new friends and family sending these wonderful cars we've all enjoyed through the years speeding down a track, yelling for them to go a little bit faster and pull ahead of the competition.
20) Planning for the 30 Hour Famine with other churches for tentative April dates. A planning letter is being sent out in January 2006.

What does this mean for 2006? It means that there is a lot to do and we cannot and will not grow without help from the congregation. I know that you are already busy with work, family, and other activities. So, what can you do? As much or as little as you feel called to do. How much time is this going to take? As much or as little as you feel called to spend. We would rather have 20 people helping when they are able for short periods of time than to have 4 people doing it all and getting burnt out. Here are some of the things that we are going to need help with in 2006:
 Hus Racing League – Die-cast racing on 2nd Saturday of every month from February to November. This does not require a commitment for every race day, just when you are able.
 Lunch devotional leader, race officials, help in the kitchen (preparing/serving snacks and lunch-proceeds are for the Youth fund), check-in table, prize table, merchandise table, etc.
 World Vision 30 Hour Famine – this will be a lock-in on a Friday evening and all day Saturday.
 Chaperones, activity leaders, help in the Prayer room, etc.
 Summer Mission Trip Chaperones – this will be one of the few events that will require a commitment to a week of service as we are going out of state.
 Concert chaperones.
 Fundraising coordinators – Depending on what the fundraiser is, this could require one or more people.
 Middle school youth group leader(s) – this will require at least a year of commitment and if the kids like you it will be longer.
Please check the Hus Church Ministry Guide for more opportunities with the Youth and Family Team as well as the other ministry teams. Whether young or old, we are all called by God to ministry. Noah was 600 years old when the ark was completed and the floods came. Abram was 75 years old when:
1The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3 NIV)
Joseph was but a young man, not more than 17, when he was sold into slavery and God began to use him in Egypt. Jesus started his ministry at 30. I was 37 when God called me to minister to the youth of Hus Church. Age is not relevant, as God will have you serve in whatever way he needs whether it is a few hours every now and then or a long-term commitment to a particular activity. To God be the glory!

Because of Him,


Terry Van Wyk
Youth and Family Life Minister

Let’s begin our journey to communicate to the emerging generations by listening—listening to generations that need to hear, understand, and respond to some Good News. It’s a generation Jesus invites to “come.” It’s a generation to which Jesus commands us to “go.”
- Walt Mueller, President of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding

January 2006

Hi All,
The calendar for 2006 is getting fuller every day, which is absolutely wonderful with one exception, we need help. That sounds odd doesn’t it? If I had just been told that, my first thought would be "that is why we pay Terry." And that is true, I was hired to take care of the Youth and Family Life Ministry. That got me to thinking about a passage in Exodus:
13The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"
15Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. 16Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws." 17Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him.20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. 27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country. (Exodus 18:13-27 NIV)

In this passage Jethro sees his son-in-law trying to do the work himself. Because of how Moses was handling things he was working from very early in the morning until late at night. I know working that much is not good on a family life because I am a recovering workaholic. Jethro then told Moses he needed help. Moses got the help he needed and now we need to get the help we need for the Youth and Family Life team. We cannot and will not grow without the added help.

What can I do?
As much or as little as you feel called to do.
How much time is this going to take? I’m already busy with work, family, and other activities.
As much or as little as you feel called to spend.
We would rather have 20 people helping when they are able for short periods of time than to have 4 people doing it all and getting burnt out. Here are some of the things that we are going to need help with in 2006:

• Hus Racing League – Die-cast racing on 2nd Saturday of every month from February to November. This does not require a commitment for every race day, just when you are able.
• Lunch devotional leader, race officials, help in the kitchen (preparing/serving snacks and lunch-proceeds are for the Youth fund), check-in table, prize table, merchandise table, etc.
• World Vision 30 Hour Famine – this will be a lock-in on a Friday evening and all day Saturday.
• Chaperones, activity leaders, help in the Prayer room, etc.
• Summer Mission Trip – this will be one of the few events that will require a commitment to a week of service as we are going out of state.
• Concert chaperones.
• Fundraising coordinators – Depending on what the fundraiser is, they will require 1 or more people.
• Middle school youth group leader(s) – this will require at least a year of commitment and if the kids like you it will be longer.

Please check the Hus Church Ministry Guide for more opportunities with the Youth and Family Team as well as the other teams. Whether young or old, we are all called by God to ministry. Noah was 600 years old when the ark was completed and the floods came. Abram was 75 years old when:
1The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:1-3 NIV)
Joseph was but a young man, not more than 17, when he was sold into slavery and God began to use him in Egypt. Jesus started his ministry at 30. I was 37 when God called me to minister to the youth of Hus Church. Age is not relevant, as God will have you serve in whatever way he needs whether it is a few hours every now and then or a long-term commitment to a particular activity. To God be the glory!

I leave you this month with the chorus to the popular Casting Crowns song, "If We Are the Body":

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

Because of Him,

Terry and Diane


A conversation with God
Hi God. We just celebrated the birth of Your Son, Jesus. What a wonderful gift you gave us. It is the best one that anyone has ever given to us or ever will. God, we have a lot of opportunities here at Hus Church for service and we need your help in guiding people to where you want them to serve. This congregation has so many wonderful gifts, please help us to use those to Your glory. We thank you for Hus Church and all of the members (our spiritual family). In Jesus’ name, Amen.