Fully Devoted

So here is my question? What does it take for a person to be fully devoted to Christ?

Does it take someone who never makes a mistake?

Does it take a minister?

Does it take a person who does nothing but listens to Christians music, reads only their Bible or someone who has perfect manners?

Perfect morals?

Perfect dreams?

Tell me what you think it take for a person to be fully devoted to Christ....

free hugs

so i walked around all day with a sign that said free hugs it was a great day

i gave out 104 hugs, most to people ive never met before

Good to be Home!

It was good to be back with all of you tonight. I really enjoyed my time away but I know that I certainly am happy to be back.

I hope that tonight's study was very encouraging for each of you. I know that being a Christian can seem like a very large task sometimes. It fact, all the time. Around every corner lies an opportunity to share Jesus with someone. And by share Jesus, I don't mean get in there face and scream, "REPENT YOU DIRTY SINNER!" Instead, I mean that around every corner is a friend that just needs someone to listen to them, or a player on your team that is not as good as the other players but still tries really hard (maybe they need a friend), or maybe you just need to stop and let God love you for a minute. Or maybe you need to invite a friend to church or obey your parents without getting sarcastic. Every day offers you an opportunity to share Christ with someone. Some way show them they are loved. Isn't that what you partnered with Christ to do? Show love to people? And don't get down on yourself if you miss an opportunity, God will definitely give you another chance. Hang in there I am proud of each one of you for being so willing to grow in your faith. Your DESIRE means everything to God.

Let me let you know of a couple of upcoming events.

First, SERAPH will be in concert next Wednesday night at Along the Journey. If you want to check them out go to:

http://www.burningcoalministries.com/templates/System/default.asp?id=2775

http://www.myspace.com/seraph6

Also, Broomball is coming up on Oct. 13th. You will want to be a part of me destroying the guys at Broomball.

Also, the Guy's Retreat is coming up on Oct. 19th and 20th.  We are going camping and everybody love camping.

Have a good night and a great rest of the week.

I love each of you like a fat kid loves cake!

Casey

SYATP- See You At The Pole

Well I'm not sure about everyone else but at East SYATP was pretty cool.

It was from 7-9 and about 30 people showed up...it was something like that.

I didn't really get to participate since i had to take yearbook pictures

but alot of people wanted to know what was going on

i know i stopped and was talking to people about why we were here

and people responded differently then i thought

in my personal opinion i think that groups like First Priority (a devotion group at east)

and other organizations at schools should do stuff like SYATP more often than once a year

that's not like a rip at christian organizations at schools or anything but i think more people

are interested then the lead on

Hope everyone has a more than amazing week

Later, Schuler

p.s. JUMP5 CD OUT IN 9 Days 1 hour and 10 min <3

Hey Everyone
So just like Katie i've been really busy too.
High School is insane....like no lie.
I've been trying to do Varsity Swimming, Yearbook (as a managing editor), an AP Class, Work, and regular school.
It doesn't work very well which is why i had to drop (in the process of dropping) my AP class.
How's everyone else been holding up?
Homecoming is getting closer...when is everyone's...east's is in like a month. Alright well i gotta go do homework.. Dueces -Schuler

People are not coincidences

Hey everybody,

I've had a really busy week - so much do do, so little time. We had a Thursday football game which left zero time for homework. Being so busy and always rushing to do the next thing always makes me feel like I've missed so much throughout the day. I end up spending the entire day focusing on getting my stuff done and neglected to consider the stuff God set aside for me. I think that the Disciple journal that we got Sunday will really help everybody be more conscious of God's big picture for the day.

When I first started comparing my new school schedule with my friends I was disappointed that we didn't have any classes together. I'm noticing a lot of people in my classes that I haven't seen in a while and a lot of people I have never seen before (that's the problem with having such big schools). I really think God has put each person in my classes there for a reason. It's really interesting to think about how the counselors organize each person's schedule, but just think about how many people God is keeping track of and strategically placing them in each class. Although it's a little late to make first impressions, we don't know everybody in our classes perfectly and have an amazing opportunity to set a Christ-like example. I hope we all take advantage of the opportunities God has set up for us and remember that the people in our classes are not coincidences.

Have a great weekend,
Katie

Abraham

Tonight we talked about God's promise to Abraham in the book of Genesis. I recommend that you re-read the passage. (Genesis 12:1-5) Here is what is interesting about Abraham to me. When God told him to pack up and leave his homeland to go where God told him, which by the way would be like from New York to Las Vegas today, he just said "okay." "OKAY!?!" Think about what that move must have been like. He left his hometown, his father and mother, and his culture simply because God asked him to. Scripture leaves out some of the details in many cases, details that would be valuable to us, but there is no hesitation that we can find in Abraham's voice. God spoke and he moved.

So here's my thought, many times we look at the Bible as this old book where God talked to people and everything was totally different. But is that true? Doesn't God speak to our hearts today? Don't we believe that Christ lives within us, right here and right now? If we agree with that statement then why don't we do what Christ is asking us to do? Why don't I always do it either?

What is God asking you to do? Does it have to deal with your friends? Does it have to deal with family? Maybe school? Maybe yourself? Whatever God is asking you to do, give obedience a shot and see what happens when you follow the Holy Spirit's lead.

You never know where it will take you on your journey...

whats up

whats up guys

Amazing Story

Hey everybody,

i was browsing the internet the other day, and i came across this amazing story/discussion,
its kind of long, but its worth it

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand."You're a Christian, aren't you, son?""Yes sir," the student says."So you believe in God?""Absolutely.""Is God good?""Sure! God's good.""Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?""Yes.""Are you good or evil?""The Bible says I'm evil."The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?""Yes sir, I would.""So you're good...!""I wouldn't say that.""But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"The student remains silent."No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax."Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?""Er...yes," the student says."Is Satan good?"The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No.""Then where does Satan come from?"The student falters. "From God""That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?""Yes, sir.""Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?""Yes.""So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"The student squirms on his feet. "Yes.""So who created them?"The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?""No sir. I've never seen Him.""Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?""No, sir, I have not.""Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?""No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.""Yet you still believe in him?""Yes.""According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?""Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith.""Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?""Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat.""And is there such a thing as cold?""Yes, son, there's cold too.""No sir, there isn't."The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.""Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer."What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?""Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?""You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word.""In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?""Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?""You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.""It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.""Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?""If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.""Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed."Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided."To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter."Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.""So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith.""Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."


i thought that it was pretty cool

i hope you guys did to

well on a normal note
the school years been going pretty good i took a PSAT today, and figured out that i really dont like math

well i hope everybody else is having a good school year so far too

-AJ

Max Lucado

Hey there travelers! I think this will be a great tool to express free thoughts about God, life, our relationship with God in our life, and more. Something I want to try and start doing is start to read a daily devotional every morning before I get my day started. I used to be really good at this, and it would help me to have better days, but I have fallen out of touch with this routine.

I have a Max Lucado devotional book that my MawMaw gave me when I went off to college. It has a devotional for everyday out of the year. Reading an encouraging message every morning used to really help me get my days started off on the right foot. Every morning, first thing I would focus on God. I think its time I get back with it. Anyone else up for a challenge like this?

Heyy

heyy guys...how is everyone doing?? i dont really know what this is and how to work it but im learning :) haha. Sooo i really like all my classes and teachers this year...so far things are going good :) How is everyone elses school going?? i have seen david a lot...and i saw christina for the first time today :) Other than that i dont see a lot of people....im one of those nerds that just walk right to their class and doesnt really talk haha. But that's okay cuz ill never be late. Anyways i hope everyone is starting off the school year with a good attitude and i hope everyone has fun and learns a lot :) See yall on Wed.

Ps....lets start to get more people involved in this....i know people are stuck on myspace and facebook (me :) ) but lets try to really try to get things started with this....cuz i think its gunna be awesome.

pss....ohh and just cuz i know yall all wanna hear about my life :) but i was kinda cleaning out my book self before school started and i found this kinda old poem prayer book thing....like it has poems that are prayers in it....and my mom gave it to me a couple years ago and i think its called prayers on my pillow or something like that....but neways i really like it cuz it just kind of gives me ideas about what to pray about cuz i am really bad at praying and so it has just helped me improve my prayer time with God in the last few days. I also thought it was cool that i found it right before school started cuz i was kinda nervous to go back to school cuz its my senior year..so it has just helped me a lot :)

okay bye for real now :) see yall later

<3 Karina

Welcome Aboard

Fellow Travelers,

Thanks for being a part of this new blog. My goal for this is to provide you an opportunity to speak freely about what God is doing in your life and in our group. This will also be used to provide you with information about what is going on within our group. This is different from myspace because this is strictly about words and thoughts, not so much pictures and graphics. This is a chance for honest and life transforming conversations to take place. Again, thanks for joining with this and take care.

Casey