The Youth Dare Part 3

Day Eleven: Pause.  By now you must be feeling it.  Some of these dares are not easy – many of them require some sacrifice.  Pause today and think about how doing these challenges for the last two weeks has brought about some sort of change.  Read Ephesians 5 and 6 again and see how God intends relationships to work.

Day Twelve: Proverbs 10:1. Are you ever guilty of grieving your parents? How so? Do you complain a lot? Do you rebel? Are you a slob (hehe)? Seriously – Pick one kind of grief that you are guilty of, and resolve to not do it for 24 hours. Do everything you can to surprise your parents with peace!

Day Thirteen: Read 1st Timothy 5:1-8. Did you know that the Bible teaches us that we are sometimes responsible for our families (even as children)?  When is the last time you “checked up” on how your family is doing?  Write out some thoughts on how this scripture may be showing you how to act.

Day Fourteen: Simply Remember. Think back to a time when one of your parents bailed you out – scraped knee, bruised ego, some minor or major mess-up. Wasn’t it comforting to know that they were there for you? Do we sometimes take that love for granted? Thank them for one of those moments today.

The Youth Dare Part 2

I’m breaking these up into separate posts so that we don’t have a runaway-mile-long book by the time we’re through.  Same thing though.  Dares for days 6-10 will be here.  In case you didn’t notice I am linking the scripture references to an online Bible so you can easily read each one; which I hope you are doing!

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Day Six: Love is not Irritable. Proverbs 16:32. Dare: Make a list of things that you need to work on in your relationship with your parents.  Choose to react to your parents with kindness today, even when feeling frustrated.

Day Seven: Love believes the Best. 1st Corinthians 13:7.  Dare: 2 sheets of paper; on one write positive things about your parents, on the other; negative.  Stash them.  Sometime during the day thank each of your parents for one of the positives.  You will reference these papers in the future.

Day Eight: Love is Unconditional.  Romans 5:8.  Is your love for your parents unconditional?  Nobody is perfect, and I think that sometimes we unfairly expect our parents to be perfect.  Take yesterday’s list of negatives; acknowledge it, then rip it up and toss it and resolve to love your parents anyway.

Day Nine:  The 5th Command.  Exodus 20:12.  So our parents are important enough to God to make it in the ten commandments!  Not only that but He commands us to honor them. Spend some time today thinking of ways to truly honor your parents; going beyond mere obedience.  Pick at least one and do it!

Day Ten: Letting Them Win.  Philippians 2:4.  Ever argue with your parental units?  Dare: Think about some of the things that you are consistently bickering with them about.  Pick one of those things and let them win it… Submit 100% (and you have to tell them).  Yeah… I know, right?

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Keep it up kids! On Thursday night I was happy to see that most of you are really doing this .  I’ve already had one parent tell me that they’ve noticed something strange and cool going on!!

The Youth Dare

Hey guys and girls! Thanks for taking this seriously! I believe that if you follow through with this event you’ll see a big change in your life! I will continue to post each day’s challenge so that technical problems don’t hinder the movement…

Day One: Love is Patient. Ephesians 4:2. Our words often reflect the condition of our hearts. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience by saying nothing negative to your parents at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything.

Day Two: Love is Kind. Ephesians 4:32. In addition to not saying anything negative to your parents today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

Day Three: Love is not Selfish. Romans 12:10. Whatever you put time and energy into will be more meaningful to you. In addition to not saying anything negative; buy, write, or create something for your parents that shows them you appreciate them.

Day Four: Love is Thoughtful. Psalm 139:17-18.  Dare: Talk to each of your parents at some point today with no agenda other than asking them how they are and if there is anything you can do for them today.

Day Five: Love is not Rude. Proverbs 27:14. Dare: Ask your parents to tell you three things about you that make them feel uncomfortable or irritated.  You must do this without attacking them or justifying your behavior.  Write them down later.

This verse may be a little hard to get. But if you think about it, it makes sense.  If you do something nice, but do it in a rude way (like shouting in the morning) it’s still rude!

You can do it!  I know this one may be tough, but it IS a dare – those are not always easy!

The Youth Dare is inspired by the book The Love Dare (featured in the movie Fireproof) and is part of a program at our church we are calling the 5th Command. We are simply taking the principles found in the scriptures and looking at them from the angle of kids and parents.

National Youth Ministry Conference

Man does this place rock!  Holly and I are enjoying ourselves and getting some pretty intense training for youth ministry right now!  Well, RIGHT NOW she’s asleep and I am blogging in our hotel room; but you know what I mean!  It’s been a long day and we’ve been absorbing a LOT of info.  But We wanted to let you all know that we love you and can’t wait to be back next week and get back to the work!

-Lyle and Holly

ps – we both couldn’t be here if it weren’t for servants and friends like Caleb and Callie (and Hannah too) helping to watch our kids this weekend THANK YOU!

Give Me Your Eyes

January 19th

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see

The simple-but-profound lyrics of this song come swinging in like a smack to the head. This prayer of a song by Brandon Heath is one of those life and perspective changing messages that sticks in your heart just as much as in your head. He prays for God to open up his eyes to see people the same way that God Himself sees people. He wants to be a significant agent of change in the world around him.

Another song comes to mind that you may have heard:

“I wanna be Your hands, I wanna be Your feet – I’ll go where You send me, go where You send me…”

Just where is it, and what is it that God wants you to do… today – right now – In an hour?

Ephesians 4:28 speaks of the answer to that question! “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”

What can you do today for the Lord that will let you leave a godly impression on the world and the people around you? What are your gifts? What are your circumstances? What can your hands accomplish today for His mission? God places awesome opportunities before us every day! Are we missing them?

Family Skate Night

He’s Not Really Moving

Originally uploaded by lylebaker

Just uploaded some pics from tonight’s Family Skate Night! Not sure when the video will be up…

Zoomers Skate Club loved the music (from Christian musicians) that we brought with us. I’m gonna send the folks a list of the students’ favorites. If you want to help me with the list lemme know.

Next skate night is March, but since we’ve been having such good turnouts we might speed that date up a bit…

Pre-Christmas Thoughts

So have you put your tree up yet; hung the lights; wrapped the presents? You have actually bought presents, right? Yes, I’m trying to stress you out here. Is it working? Well, I hope not. I am not quite prepared myself (I’m writing this on December 5th – I should be better prepared by the time you’re reading it). I wonder how many of you are doing what my family is doing this year: the draw-a-name-gift-exchange! It will theoretically cut down on how expensive Christmas will end up being… Christmas is a lot of things, it seems, and I’ve touched on two: stressful and expensive.

But wait! There’s more! Christmas is also frustrating (have you been to Wal-Mart lately?), commercialized (remember Charlie Brown?), and self-centered (Anybody want to see my Christmas list?)…

It’s also a time when people who already miss their loved ones; miss them more. It’s a time when the soldier’s around the world wish that they could be home with their families. It’s a time when office parties have too much alcohol. It’s a time that homeless people are still homeless, crime is still rampant, and the economy still exists.
This fallen world wears me out. Christmas should be, next to Easter, the most incredible time of the year. Let’s let it be! I can’t wait for family time. I can’t wait for the giving of gifts (and receiving too). I can’t wait for the celebrating. But this year the things I’m most looking forward to – worship, revival, joy. I want to wash off the world and soak up some faith. Christmas is a religious holiday – let’s remember how important it really is to our faith, and instead of the craziness and a few days off – let’s make it a religious celebration to remember amongst our family and friends!

Merry Christmas everybody!

Lyle in Middle Earth

I Just thought I would add this epic picture for your enjoyment.  Make fun all you want; when the orcs invade I will be ready…

Note to photoshop experts: I am not skilled in the way of the photoshop; I used Gimp 2 which crashed on me many, many times…

What about that particle accelerator thing-a-m-a-bob?

I mentioned something called a particle accelerator in my message on Sunday, but didn’t have much time to explain it so here you go…

(Just so you know, I only know about this stuff cause I read a lot – I am no expert so don’t go citing me in your thesis – I am not a rocket scientist)

Sometime next month, a ring-shaped super-gadget called the Large Hadron Collider will begin shooting particles at each other at just under the speed of light (they started it up last Wednesday). Now at first glance, that might sound like boring science to your average video-gaming youth minister – but I actually think this is kind of an interesting event for Christians. Here are some facts:

1. The LHC is a 17-mile-long circular space-age looking “tunnel” of magnets, metal, wiring, and computers that has been built underground near Geneva on the France/Switzerland border. It took around 20 years to build and the price tag is estimated to be around 5 billion dollars (so far).

2. Its main function is the aforementioned shooting of beams of particles at each other and observing the results… tiny explosions!!! Possibly small black holes?! (this does sound like fun).

3. We have a smaller one in Illinois that does the same thing.

4. Studies have had good benefits and practical applications in the medical field and other places.

5. They are going to try and “recreate” a miniature “big-bang”…

6. They are hoping to prove the existence of the “Higgs boson” particle that they believe gives matter mass (in other words, what makes stuff real).

7. They are looking for additional dimensions (seriously).

8. They are looking for many other unknowns that would point to why and how we exist.

Now normally I wouldn’t be interested in this stuff – science is not my strongest subject – but this is definitely interesting; I’m convinced that science is looking for God and doesn’t know it. Now obviously I don’t believe the same way they do, but I’m happy that they are looking into creation. People want to know where they come from. People want to know why we exist and what makes us who we are. People are curious. And I think that’s a good thing.

Many Christians may be offended by all of it (ever think we get offended to easily?); but I personally can’t wait ‘til they discover evidence of the Creator’s touch in the studies they conduct – even if they call it something else. I just hope and pray they will follow the evidence wherever it leads… And I hope that at the end of it all some scientists will find that it’s a “Who” that holds the universe together rather than a “what.”

Colossians 1:17

I also hope that the thing doesn’t blow up France.

Big thank you’s all around for those that helped with the Fall Kick-Off. Now, no more lock-ins ‘til 2014; I may recover by then

-Lyle

Fall Kick-Off 2008 – September 12th-14th

Hey kids, come on down to the Fall Kick-Off!!  Here’s the crazy schedule…  Please read carefully and note that some of this is subject to change or become more detailed; so check back often.  Permission/emergency forms will need to be filled out at the beginning of each lock-in

Click here for form

All planned activities are geared for Elementary ages through SR High.  Younger kids are welcome at events with parents-in-tow.

Remember to bring a friend!!!!  You also will need some money depending on age group’s planned activities.  The Lock-Ins are free.

Friday, September 12th:

7 PM LIFT Worship Service

8 PM – 12 AM God Squad (Elementary Ages) LOCK-IN (Pizza [5 dollars per family] and Games)

8 PM – 12 AM  H.A.L.O. (JR High) = Bonfire and Games @ Ramey’s (may need some money)

8 PM  – 12 AM UNRL (SR High) = Going Out to the Movies (will need eating/movie money)

12 AM – 6 AM JR High LOCK-IN

12 AM – 6 AM SR High LOCK-IN

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Saturday, September 13th:

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Card Games/Board Games/Leftover snacks (Elementary through SR High)

• Eye of Judgment Tournament (prizes)
• World of Warcraft (Card Game) Tournament (prizes)
• Other board, card, and tabletop gaming available (no video gaming tonight kids)

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Sunday, September 14th:

9 AM Sunday School

10 AM Youth Sunday Worship Service (No JR Church)

Cookout after church (Please bring a side dish, drink, or snack or all of the above)

1:30 – 2:30 … To Be Determined

5:30 LIFT Worship Service

6:00 Youth Groups

7:00 Sunday Night Live (JR/SR High @ Baker’s for fun n games)