Easter's right around the Corner

With Easter being right around the orner I thought I would post this funny video done by the skit guys. It carries a great message. Enjoy!

Collegiate week

This is for all you college students out there. I wanted to give you just a glimpse of everything you can expereince at Collegiate week. Hope you enjoy it. If you are interested in going please contact me ASAP so we can get everything lined up.

Collegiate Week from Threads on Vimeo.

Gift of Relationships

Our Current series at The Merge on Sunday nights is "The Proposal." This month we are looking at what scripture tells us about dating and relationships. As I have been studying and preparing for these talks I continue to realize how much God teaches you through your relationships, even after you are married! This week we will be discussing the priorities in the dating relationship, and believe me these carry over into the married life as well.

Our goal in this series is to equip you in setting priorities and boundaries that will deepen the spiritual part of your dating life. Here are a few reasons for having priorities in dating.

First, each individual involved in a relationship should have a growing and thriving relationship with the creator, Jesus (Colossians 1:15-18)! The whole point of dating is to get to know the person and identify qualities and characteristics you desire in a future mate. If God isn't first in your life, and if you aren't in a growing relationship with Him, your other relationships will struggle. That goes beyond dating and into the realm of your home and school life as well. Are you having problems in your relationships? If you answered yes, then I would say you are having problems connecting with God on any sort of normal routine. When God is your priority everything else comes second.

Second, priorities help you realize that the issue isn't how to fit your spiritual life into your dating life; rather, it is how does my dating life fit in with my LIFE (spiritual). Dating should always be interpreted through our relationship with God and through His Word. God doesn't change standards. God has an opinion on how we should date, who we should date and He has a clear guideline in what you are to look for in a mate and what you are to avoid. This is for your protection not for you pain. God tells us not to be "unequally yoked" with non believers. This is not because He hates nonbelievers. On the contrary He loves them just as much as He loves you (John 3:16; I Peter 3:18), but He knows that problems arise in a relationship when there is disagreement, especially in beliefs.

Third, priorities help you appreciate and see the value of the gift God gives you when you marry. Lookat Genesis 2:20-25, God didn't give Eve to Adam till after Adam realized there was no one suitable for him. In other words when man realized that he was alone, he also realized his value in his relationship with God. God's plan wasn't to squander a gift on someone who would be unappreciative; rather, God waits till Adam is prepared to appreciate the gift of Eve. I believe that God will provide the person He has for you when you are prepared to appreciate the gift wholeheartedly.

So are you struggling with dating during your teenage years? Have you tried focusing all your attention and passion towards Christ. Let Him teach you to follow Him daily, longing after His will and desires. I guarantee that God will not disappoint you in who He has specifically for you. It will be beyond your wildest dreams, and you will appreciate it even more because you will realize the value of the gift from God.

Exerise Ball Jousting

So when I was a youth pastor in Texas I saw this really sweet yet violent game being played at the summer camp we went to. I saw kids flying every which direction and some getting hurt. Below is just a sample video of the game that was played that summer and I think the next game we will have.

What Men Think Video

I assumed many of you wanted to watch this video again. Lots of laughs and lots of fun. Hope you enjoy!

The Refuge

Hey Ya'll! I know it has been a while since I have updated, but I wanted to let you see some of the progress on The Refuge. We have been working on getting everything together and should see alot of progress over the next few weeks. As you can see the stage is built and the sound booth constructed. I will keep you posted of everything that is going on. We will have a number of opportunities for you to be involved and help with the painting and moving of things into The Refuge. So without further addue I introduce to you the new Refuge.

To Save A Life!

So last Night we had 115 people from Springhill go to the movie "To Save A Life." It was a phenomenal movie that clearly portrayed a fairly typical life of most teenagers. The struggles and difficulties they face every day with peer pressure to drink, do drugs or even be accepted through the way they dress or tthe parties they attend. I had a number of thoughts throughout that I wanted to share.

First, the movie I believe portryed what the typical teenager faces and the struggles they face on a weekly and daily basis. It was full of scene's where each student seemed to be doing what they could just to be accepted by those around them. One statement I remember that stood out was when Amy Briggs says, I've worked my whole life to earn this reputation. How trueis that. Most of us could admit that we have done things to try to earn or build a reputation that we think others would be proud of. I look back and think how much of my life I wasted by trying to do this.

This movie was an exact replica of my life in high school. Friday's and saturday's were full of parties where I tried to earn people's respect based upon how much I could drink or what drinking games I could win. I strived for acceptance based upon other peoples standards of success and popularity rather than striving for pleasing God. One thing I will never forget is the difficulties faced in high school. I know many of those difficulties I faced are still there for teenagers today. That is why I love working with teenagers. I know the difficulties they face, and want to be there to help them work through these situations and difficulties.

Second, I wonder what is it going to take for students to change their mindset? I have always wondered what would have been different in school if instead of worrying about what everyone else thought about me, I showed others that I was there for them no matter what.

What would happen in your school, if you went out of your way to attempt to make friends with those who really need someone. You know, the type that are looked at differently or are considered to weird or dorky to hang around. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. I would love to also hear what you enjoyed in the movie, and what you learned or were challenged by.