As many of you know, "Don't Stop Believin' has become a song that has a lot of meaning to many of the youth and adults at OSEL. The song came to life on the first mission trip that I led in 2007 to Martin, South Dakota. I had made 4 CD's with a variety of music that we could sing along to on this 8 hour trip. Don't Stop Believin' was one of the most popular song on those CD's.
The next year when we went to Canada, the song picked up right were it left off, and again the next year. I can honestly say that I have gotten a little tired of this song, but that doesn't matter to some of the youth. They sing it to me when and wherever they want. Some examples might be van rides, talent shows, and on a crowded airplane. No matter where, I also have to admit that I can't help smiling thinking back on all the memories that this song has to offer.
So, this year when we were talking about the trips and different ideas for t-shirts, we wanted it to have something to do with Journey or Don't Stop Believin'. We found a great Bible verse that I would like to share with you that goes right along with this theme.
1 Peter 1:8 "Though you have not seen him, you love him and even though you do not see him now you believe in him and are filled with an in expressible and glorious joy!" That is what it means "Don't stop believin'
No one has ever seen God, but we have seen the affects of God. We have seen his beautiful creations, through people and nature. We can't see him making these things like we can when a potter is molding his clay and is spinning his next beautiful creation. We can see the affects that God has done in our lives. So just because we can't see God, doesn't meant that we don't believe in this awesome and glorious work that He has shown us.
January 24th Youth Group
Because of the Vikings/Saints Game, we are cancelling youth group. Have fun watching the game!
Weekly Bible Verse for October 28th
Luke 11:9
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;
Seek and you will find;
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
Weekly Bible Verse for October 19th
The entire law is summedup in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galations 5:14
Weekly Bible Verse for Setpember 28th
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see!
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see!
Bible Verse for the Week of September 7th
Say to those whose hearts are afraid,
"Be Strong, Do Not Feat, Your God will come!"
Isaiah 35:4a
"Be Strong, Do Not Feat, Your God will come!"
Isaiah 35:4a
2010 Mission Trip Informational Meetings
Senior High - Grade 9 - 12
We will be going to Blackfeet Reservation by Glacier National Park in Montana. Trip dates are July 16th - 25th, 2010. The informational meeting will be Wednesday, September 16th, 7:00 - 8:00 PM or Sunday, September 20th at 9:15 AM in the Youth Center.
Middle School - Grade 6 - 8
The place to be will be Martin, South Dakota, In June 2010. We will be working between the Rose Bud and Pine Ridge Reservations. Trip Dates are June 20 -27, 2010. Informational meetings will be Wednesday, September 23rd from 7:00 until 8:00 PM in the youth center or Sunday, September 27th at 9:15 AM in the Youth Center.
We will be going to Blackfeet Reservation by Glacier National Park in Montana. Trip dates are July 16th - 25th, 2010. The informational meeting will be Wednesday, September 16th, 7:00 - 8:00 PM or Sunday, September 20th at 9:15 AM in the Youth Center.
Middle School - Grade 6 - 8
The place to be will be Martin, South Dakota, In June 2010. We will be working between the Rose Bud and Pine Ridge Reservations. Trip Dates are June 20 -27, 2010. Informational meetings will be Wednesday, September 23rd from 7:00 until 8:00 PM in the youth center or Sunday, September 27th at 9:15 AM in the Youth Center.
6th Grade Youth Group Kickoff
Sunday, September 13th @ 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Come to the youth center for pizza, fun, and fellowship! You will be introduced to the volunteers and Lynette. We will tell you more about youth group, how you can become involved, and end our night with the favorite youth group game - Toilet Paper Dodge Ball.
Come to the youth center for pizza, fun, and fellowship! You will be introduced to the volunteers and Lynette. We will tell you more about youth group, how you can become involved, and end our night with the favorite youth group game - Toilet Paper Dodge Ball.
Montana. Here we come
Montana needs to be put on alert because the high school youth are going there next summer to be the hands and feet of JESUS. Watch for more info soon!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Taking Faith Home by Laura Cassidy
*Share about a time when you felt upset or worried.
*Before Jesus’ death, his heart was “troubled” (John 12:27) Could Jesus have chosen not to die? Why? Why not?
(What does Jesus’gift, of his life on the cross mean to you?
In looking at the Faith Talk questions this week, I think we all remember a time when we’ve felt upset or worried. As parents, we worry every time our children start venturing out on their own, and hope they make “good choices”. I remember my parents worrying whenever we hopped into a vehicle and drove away, then, stayed up late until we got home. I remember accusing them of not trusting me, when now I understand it was the fact that they sometimes couldn’t sleep, until they knew I was home safe.
I can really relate to that now being a parent myself, and I hope you as middle and high school youth understand why we parents choose to do what we do.
Could Jesus have chosen not to die? Maybe, but don’t we all contemplate the choices available to us everyday? We know what we should do, but don’t? We want to follow the crowd, but we know what they are doing is wrong. Do we make the right choice?
I’d like to think that most of the decisions we make are the right ones, but I also know we are human, and will make wrong ones. To help us make these choices, we just need to remember, that if Jesus can make the ultimate “choice” and choose to die on the cross as God intended. Shouldn’t we stop to think, and ask God’s help to make the right choices, even when it’s not what we want?
*Before Jesus’ death, his heart was “troubled” (John 12:27) Could Jesus have chosen not to die? Why? Why not?
(What does Jesus’gift, of his life on the cross mean to you?
In looking at the Faith Talk questions this week, I think we all remember a time when we’ve felt upset or worried. As parents, we worry every time our children start venturing out on their own, and hope they make “good choices”. I remember my parents worrying whenever we hopped into a vehicle and drove away, then, stayed up late until we got home. I remember accusing them of not trusting me, when now I understand it was the fact that they sometimes couldn’t sleep, until they knew I was home safe.
I can really relate to that now being a parent myself, and I hope you as middle and high school youth understand why we parents choose to do what we do.
Could Jesus have chosen not to die? Maybe, but don’t we all contemplate the choices available to us everyday? We know what we should do, but don’t? We want to follow the crowd, but we know what they are doing is wrong. Do we make the right choice?
I’d like to think that most of the decisions we make are the right ones, but I also know we are human, and will make wrong ones. To help us make these choices, we just need to remember, that if Jesus can make the ultimate “choice” and choose to die on the cross as God intended. Shouldn’t we stop to think, and ask God’s help to make the right choices, even when it’s not what we want?
Jesus
I started a new devotional book this morning and I came across this poem that I wanted to share with all of you. As we come into the time of the crucifixtion and the resurrection. I thought this was a great reminder that Christ has given us all we need - HIM!
He is Jesus
The One and Only
Transendent over all else,
To know Him is to love Him,
To love Him is to long for Him.
To long for Him is to finally reach
Soul hands into the One true thing
We need never get enough of.
Jesus
Take all you want
Take all you need.
Till Soul is fed.
And spirit is freed.
Till dust is dust
And Face you see
Jesus Christ.
He's all you need.
Taking Faith Home by Terry Storholm
How did Jesus fight Satan’s temptations? How does God help us when we are tempted?
Jesus was born man, just as we are, and faced a series of temptations. Just as God was there for Jesus during his times of trial by Satan, God is also there for us if we look deep into our heart and soul.
God sends messages to us in many ways; through friends, through family, through written messages in the bible, on roadside signs and in so many other ways. Sometimes it is really difficult to listen to God’s message, or to clearly understand what the message means, as it is human nature to want to do something our own way and we don’t want to believe that a message from God conflicts with our inner desires. It is so easy to discount God’s message and throw it aside for our own (Satan’s) wishes and desires.
One time my daughter wanted to go to Colorado really bad and she prayed to God that if she got the money she needed by a certain date, through a Christmas bonus, then she would go to Colorado. Well the bonus didn’t come through by that date and she started to convince herself that she could still go, she would just cut some things out of the plans, or she could pay the credit card bill when it came. I told her the choice was hers but reminded her that sometimes God’s answer to prayers aren’t what we want to hear and maybe he answered her prayer by not providing the bonus she was hoping to get in order to go on her trip. She thought about it and decided not to go.
A huge, unexpected, storm hit the evening of the day she was supposed to leave for her trip. She would have been driving. People were stranded for three days on freeways in ice and snow. She would have been stranded in this storm, alone, cold and frightened. About a week later, her boss surprised her with a New Year’s bonus, and she was able to go to Colorado just not in the original time frame she planned. The temptation was there to toss aside God’s answer to her prayers, she didn’t allow Satan to intervene by disregarding God’s answer, and she was rewarded in the end.
God is always there for us, we just need to listen to him.
Finding PEACE
At the end of January, I traveled down to New Orleans for a youth director’s conference. It was a lot of fun to be with other youth directors from around the country. Needless to say, we are all big kids ourselves and it was a riot.
While in the “BIG EASY!” My friends and I decided to take a break from the conference and go on a two hour bus tour of New Orleans. (I should warn you if you every go to New Orleans, when they say a two hour tour, plan on double that!) The tour took us all over New Orleans, down the French Quarter, the Garden District, and also the Ninth Ward. The Ninth ward was the most featured during Katrina. It was a very eye opening to still see the devastation nearly 4 years after the hurricane.
As we were on the tour, we had the opportunity to stop at one of the cemeteries in New Orleans. A lot of the cemeteries in New Orleans are above ground because of the sea level. As we were walking around, I came across a statue of Mother Teresa. On the bottom of the statue was this quote…
“If you pray, you will have faith
And if you have faith, you will love
And if you love, you will serve
And if you serve, you will have peace.”
This quote really hit me hard. While I was down in New Orleans, my friends and I were talking about our calling in life. A lot of people have told me over the years that I should think about going to seminary and becoming a Pastor. So far, I have really dug my heals in and not went. One of the reasons I haven’t gone to seminary is because I don’t have that peace that one should have before taking a huge step.
I have thought about this quote almost every day since I have gotten back from New Orleans. I would like to share what I have discovered about my life through this quote.
If you pray, you will have faith…
Almost everyday, after I read my Bible, I pray by writing in my journal. One of the greatest things about journaling is that you can look back and see what you prayed for and what has happened since you prayed. It reminds me every day that you can’t see God, but you can see the effects that he has. Just like you can’t see the wind but you can see the effects of the wind. I see evidence every day that God is there for me, which only makes my faith stronger.
And if you have faith, you will love
And if you have love, you will serve…
I have gone on a lot of different service trips throughout the years of my ministry. I can’t help but smile when I think about the people that I have come in contact over the years through different mission trips. What I have found out about serving in those capacities that a lot of time, I get so much more back from the people that I have served than I give. The love that they share with you is something I can’t explain. I can only pray that I have blessed them as much as they have blessed me.
And if you serve, you will have peace.
There is that word again, PEACE. It is something that everyone strives to find. Some find it and some will always search for it. I have discovered however that I may not find that peace to take the next step that I need to go to seminary. But I do have a great sense of peace for what God is going in my life right now in this place. I treasure the place where I am and the people that I serve. I am finding that just like when I go on one of those many mission trips, I too am receiving more than I am giving from the youth and congregation of OSEL.
Dear God –
May we all find the peace that only you can give. Guide and direct us where you would like for us to go. AMEN!
While in the “BIG EASY!” My friends and I decided to take a break from the conference and go on a two hour bus tour of New Orleans. (I should warn you if you every go to New Orleans, when they say a two hour tour, plan on double that!) The tour took us all over New Orleans, down the French Quarter, the Garden District, and also the Ninth Ward. The Ninth ward was the most featured during Katrina. It was a very eye opening to still see the devastation nearly 4 years after the hurricane.
As we were on the tour, we had the opportunity to stop at one of the cemeteries in New Orleans. A lot of the cemeteries in New Orleans are above ground because of the sea level. As we were walking around, I came across a statue of Mother Teresa. On the bottom of the statue was this quote…
“If you pray, you will have faith
And if you have faith, you will love
And if you love, you will serve
And if you serve, you will have peace.”
This quote really hit me hard. While I was down in New Orleans, my friends and I were talking about our calling in life. A lot of people have told me over the years that I should think about going to seminary and becoming a Pastor. So far, I have really dug my heals in and not went. One of the reasons I haven’t gone to seminary is because I don’t have that peace that one should have before taking a huge step.
I have thought about this quote almost every day since I have gotten back from New Orleans. I would like to share what I have discovered about my life through this quote.
If you pray, you will have faith…
Almost everyday, after I read my Bible, I pray by writing in my journal. One of the greatest things about journaling is that you can look back and see what you prayed for and what has happened since you prayed. It reminds me every day that you can’t see God, but you can see the effects that he has. Just like you can’t see the wind but you can see the effects of the wind. I see evidence every day that God is there for me, which only makes my faith stronger.
And if you have faith, you will love
And if you have love, you will serve…
I have gone on a lot of different service trips throughout the years of my ministry. I can’t help but smile when I think about the people that I have come in contact over the years through different mission trips. What I have found out about serving in those capacities that a lot of time, I get so much more back from the people that I have served than I give. The love that they share with you is something I can’t explain. I can only pray that I have blessed them as much as they have blessed me.
And if you serve, you will have peace.
There is that word again, PEACE. It is something that everyone strives to find. Some find it and some will always search for it. I have discovered however that I may not find that peace to take the next step that I need to go to seminary. But I do have a great sense of peace for what God is going in my life right now in this place. I treasure the place where I am and the people that I serve. I am finding that just like when I go on one of those many mission trips, I too am receiving more than I am giving from the youth and congregation of OSEL.
Dear God –
May we all find the peace that only you can give. Guide and direct us where you would like for us to go. AMEN!
Taking Faith Home By Laura Cassidy
How does it feel to be left out?
How has Jesus changed your life?
How does he want us to treat others who feel left out?
I thought this weeks Faith Talk questions, would really hit home with a lot of kids today.
I’m sure we can all remember a time in our lives when we weren’t picked 1st (or even 10th) when our friends were choosing teams for a game. Or the really popular kid in school was having a party and we were not invited, and again, when your “best friend” befriends another, and you feel like a third wheel.
We might have feelings of anger, sadness, envy or even spite. We just need to recognize those feelings for what they are, and learn how to deal with them, and think about what is really important in our lives.
As I’ve gotten older, and have children of my own, the thought of being left out, when there are so many other more important events going on in my life, is very trivial to me now. (Although I remember at the time it seemed like the most important thing in the world!) I do my best to remember that, when my children come home with their problems, (and pray that I give them the right advice). When we put our faith in God, I know that with his help, prayer, and keeping the communication lines open I will be doing the best I can.
We have to try to think about what we do and say in a moment of anger or sadness. Say a quick prayer that God will let those feelings of not belonging pass quickly.
How has Jesus changed your life?
How does he want us to treat others who feel left out?
I thought this weeks Faith Talk questions, would really hit home with a lot of kids today.
I’m sure we can all remember a time in our lives when we weren’t picked 1st (or even 10th) when our friends were choosing teams for a game. Or the really popular kid in school was having a party and we were not invited, and again, when your “best friend” befriends another, and you feel like a third wheel.
We might have feelings of anger, sadness, envy or even spite. We just need to recognize those feelings for what they are, and learn how to deal with them, and think about what is really important in our lives.
As I’ve gotten older, and have children of my own, the thought of being left out, when there are so many other more important events going on in my life, is very trivial to me now. (Although I remember at the time it seemed like the most important thing in the world!) I do my best to remember that, when my children come home with their problems, (and pray that I give them the right advice). When we put our faith in God, I know that with his help, prayer, and keeping the communication lines open I will be doing the best I can.
We have to try to think about what we do and say in a moment of anger or sadness. Say a quick prayer that God will let those feelings of not belonging pass quickly.
Taking Faith Home
The Lord gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youth will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
-Isaiah 40:29-31
Share about a time when you felt or experienced God answering your prayers.
When I first read this question, I thought, "Wow! This one is going to be a hard one to answer!" But then the more and more I thought about it, the easier it got. I just had to look.
Each morning, one of the first things that I do is have my quiet time. I read a chapter or two in the Bible and then I write in my journal. I like to look back and read what I wrote to God and how it was answered. It might not have been the answer that I was looking for at that moment but it was an answer that God needed me to see at that moment.
Each morning, one of the first things that I do is have my quiet time. I read a chapter or two in the Bible and then I write in my journal. I like to look back and read what I wrote to God and how it was answered. It might not have been the answer that I was looking for at that moment but it was an answer that God needed me to see at that moment.
One other time where I have experienced God answering prayers is during mission trips. Last summer, I asked over 40 people to pray for us while we were on Mission trips. They also wrote letters of encouragement to the youth and leaders. As we went through our week, I looked back at the different situations that we had come across and knew that we had people praying for us and God was watching out for us. There were situations that could have turned out really bad but again people were praying for us and watching out for us.
May the Lord life you up when you are weak and give you strength when you are tired.
Isaiah 40:29-31
Taking Faith Home by Kara Hultgren
Name a teacher that you admire and what have they taught you.
If there is one teacher that I have learned the most from and respected most I think it would be my 7th grade world geography teacher, Jan Hertel. She was the best teacher I have ever had. She showed me that even when you fail you can get up and try again. "Just as long as you give it your best," that's what she used to tell me.
She showed me that it was ok to fail just as long as you do keep trying and never give up. She also showed me how to accept the way I am and try not to change it for anyone. She might not know this but I think that she had the most impact of anyone on my through my middle school life. She didn't only help me in the classroom but she also taught me alot of life lessons.
She taught me how to deal with my parents nasty divorce. She taught me how to deal with my friends and the drama that comes with being a teenager. But most of all she taught me how to be myself even if at the time I didn't know what that ment. I respect her the most because she never gave up on me. Even though I had an attitude sometimes and was disrespectful, she always kept trying. I really respect her for trying so hard to help me get through life and that year. I thank God everyday for her. Without her I don't know where I would be.
Dear God, Thank you so much for the people who teach us. You know how important it is to have someone to make us and mold us into what we are. Thank you for molding us into the people we are. We will always know we have you as a teacher. Amen!
Taking Faith Home by Mike Swanson
“Come, follow me…” (Mark 1:17)
As you read in Lynette’s post last week she has ask the youth board to respond to one of the questions in “Taking the Faith Home” each week. I hope you are enjoying this new tool in bringing your faith beyond just Sunday mornings.
One of the questions this week is “Have you given up something to follow Jesus?”
For those that know me you may already have heard this story, and for those that haven’t I’m going to try and keep it as short as I can (for internet posting sake), but I’d love to talk with you more about in person if you want!
Growing up I was always going to be a teacher – from kindergarten to my senior year of high school. I belonged to the Future Teachers of America club and everything. Then my senior year of high school I fell into the banking field. It was a great job, no nights, no weekends, pay was decent and really I didn’t need much education to be successful in it. This being my senior year post high school education was the last thing I wanted to think about.
So after graduation I stayed in banking, obtained my associate’s degree and began climbing the corporate ladder. My goal was to become a branch manager. I’m proud to say I obtain this goal at age 23! This was a huge feat for me and something I never thought I would accomplish so soon. I was the youngest branch manager my company had ever had! Here I was, 23 years old, working my “goal career”, making a lot more money than I thought I would be at 23 and yet…I was miserable. Something wasn’t right.
After a lot of prayer and some Godly interventions I made the decision to leave the manger position and step down to become a personal banker once again. As a branch manager I was quite successful and grew the office substantially both in terms of morale and over all dollar value; but I knew it wasn’t where God wanted me to be.
So I left what I thought was my career goal, took a vast pay & benefit cut and went back to school. I can honestly say it was one of the more difficult decisions I’ve had to make in my life, but I haven’t regretted it for a minute. Because of that decision I’ve come to realize what God’s life goal for me is.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for all you have given me. Help me to use well the things I have, but not to become wrapped up in them. Amen
As you read in Lynette’s post last week she has ask the youth board to respond to one of the questions in “Taking the Faith Home” each week. I hope you are enjoying this new tool in bringing your faith beyond just Sunday mornings.
One of the questions this week is “Have you given up something to follow Jesus?”
For those that know me you may already have heard this story, and for those that haven’t I’m going to try and keep it as short as I can (for internet posting sake), but I’d love to talk with you more about in person if you want!
Growing up I was always going to be a teacher – from kindergarten to my senior year of high school. I belonged to the Future Teachers of America club and everything. Then my senior year of high school I fell into the banking field. It was a great job, no nights, no weekends, pay was decent and really I didn’t need much education to be successful in it. This being my senior year post high school education was the last thing I wanted to think about.
So after graduation I stayed in banking, obtained my associate’s degree and began climbing the corporate ladder. My goal was to become a branch manager. I’m proud to say I obtain this goal at age 23! This was a huge feat for me and something I never thought I would accomplish so soon. I was the youngest branch manager my company had ever had! Here I was, 23 years old, working my “goal career”, making a lot more money than I thought I would be at 23 and yet…I was miserable. Something wasn’t right.
After a lot of prayer and some Godly interventions I made the decision to leave the manger position and step down to become a personal banker once again. As a branch manager I was quite successful and grew the office substantially both in terms of morale and over all dollar value; but I knew it wasn’t where God wanted me to be.
So I left what I thought was my career goal, took a vast pay & benefit cut and went back to school. I can honestly say it was one of the more difficult decisions I’ve had to make in my life, but I haven’t regretted it for a minute. Because of that decision I’ve come to realize what God’s life goal for me is.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for all you have given me. Help me to use well the things I have, but not to become wrapped up in them. Amen
Taking Faith Home
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you whenI was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
-Psalm 139:13-16
As many of you know, each week in church you are handed a "Taking Faith Home!" pamplet. As I was going through this sheet at home, I thought it would be very cool for me to do some of the devotions or share some of my answers from the worksheets with all of you. I have also asked other youth board members to share some of their stories. So please stay tuned to see their answers. Please let me know if you would like to have one of your answers posted.
This week's pamplet asked - "Philip looked for Nathaniel and brought him to Jesus. Who has brought you to Jesus?"
For me, there are a number who have brought me to Jesus. I think there are times in our lives where we walk away from Jesus and there are people who bring us back to Jesus. Let me share with you one person who really bought me to Jesus.
A lot of you know that I grew up on the same farm as my grandparents. My Grandma Matter was a woman of faith. I would spend the night at her house and she would pray with me every night. She was the one who taught me the Lord's Prayer.
As I grew up, she would tell me that she was praying for me. There were days that we would have coffee/milk talk that she would share her faith with me and how wonderful it was to have something to believe in. She explained to me how when things got rough, she always turned to her faith. She also made sure that I knew when things were going well, she also turned to her faith.
My Grandma Matter was an amazing woman. I am proud and humbled that I was her granddaughter. I pray that I can one day be the person who helps people come to Jesus just like my grandmother did so well.
Jesus, Son of God, give me the faith to follow you. Amen.
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