Trivia Videos

In case you missed the fundraising dinner, you can look at the trivia videos made by the mid-highs and senior highs here. 

Wisconsin Trivia

Pennsylvania Trivia

Pictures!

I was way too busy to think about taking pictures on Friday night. (I think I need to assign someone to be our official photographer at Mid-High events). As usual, Breana and Brendan's mom was on top of things and took some awesome pics. You can see them here.

Thanks, Diana!

A Group Effort

I'm still on a high from last night's fundraising event. What a terrific night it was. I heard so many compliments in the short  time I had to talk with people before I started scrubbing pots in the kitchen. I was getting anxious during the week for everything to go smoothly. I had to remind myself and internalize Phillipians 4:6 (look it up.....). However, on Friday morning I woke up and started to get super-excited about the night and knew everything was going to turn out just fine. I think it was more than fine. It was outstanding. 

What I was most impressed about, though, was not the food or the entertainment (both of which were awesome!) but by how much everyone worked together to produce the event. None of it could have been done alone. I was reminded of 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 where it speaks of spiritual gifts and also parts of the body.  Each one of you who helped yesterday was essential: if we didn't have people who ironed, the tables would have looked bad; if we didn't have people who put out the table settings, people would have had to eat with their fingers; if we didn't have people working in the kitchen, people would have been hungry; if we did't have people serving the food, people would have had to get their own; if we didn't have people working the sound booth, people wouldn't have been able to hear what was going on on the stage; if we didn't have people singing, and dancing, and acting, I would have had to perform for an hour and people would have run away screaming!!; if we didn't have people helping to clean up, I would have been there all night...... You get my meaning, right? EVERYONE was useful. EVERY part of what you did was valuable. EVERY bit of service was needed. We ALL worked together to form one outstanding body last night. I appreciate each and every one of you.... 

Our Daily Bread

In the Lord's Prayer, we say, "give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11) Personally, I love bread. Bagels and cream cheese, toast with peanut butter and english muffins are often what I eat for breakfast. However, while Jesus may have been referring to the physical act of eating, I believe He was really saying we should understand that God provides what we need for our daily living. But what is that? I don't believe it's just food, water and shelter. I believe we need the Word of God, the Spirit of God and the Grace of God in our daily lives. 

I mentioned in my post at the beginning of Lent that I am working on spending more time with God each day. One of the ways I'm doing this is by reading "Our Daily Bread." "Our Daily Bread" is a monthly booklet of devotionals. For each day there is a scripture passage and a short thoughtful story.  While a lot of the stories are geared toward adult readers, you might want to give it a try. 

You don't even have to pick up a book. They have all the devotionals on their website here. You can go back and look at previous dates or look ahead to future dates (find the one for your birthday!) Try this resource to help you grow closer to God and strengthen your faith. Let me know what you think.

Psalms 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God."

So goes the verse from Psalms. I have to keep reminding myself this as I have been extremely busy these days. It seems like I've had so much to do these past few weeks, and looking into the weeks ahead. It was Hannah's 16th birthday, Ian is home for spring break (doctor's appts, looking at summer classes, updating his resume, etc), setting up the entertainment line-up for the fundraising dinner and scheduling play rehearsal, working on the Palm Sunday skit, thinking about stuff for my worship team, watching American Idol.  Sometimes I feel like I am just going from one activity to another without time to stop and think and listen. Do you ever get that way?

It seems that everyone is busy these days. School, sports, dance classes, clubs, meetings, church, groups, and other extra-curricular activities – there's just so much to do! Do you ever stop and be still and listen? I am trying hard to make time to listen to God these days. I find that in these busy times I have to really make an effort to set aside quiet time to be with God. I need to relax and unwind and be still. Are you able to do that? Try to set aside time each day for prayer or meditation. Don't forget to listen during your quiet time. Don't fill it with your words, but listen for God's. 

Reflections on Lent

We have entered into the season of Lent. I grew up with Catholic friends who had to fast during Lent. I used to wonder why they weren't eating ice cream or watching television for 40 days before Easter. And no meat on Fridays, only fish. I remember seeing all the signs at area restaurants (even now!) with Friday fish specials and  the local Elks club having a Friday fish fry. Growing up, my family never really concerned ourselves with fasting or any Lenten practices. 

As an adult, I've come to learn more about Lent. In the ancient church, Lent was a time for new converts to be instructed for baptism and believers caught in sin to focus on repentance. In time, Christians came to see Lent as a season to be reminded of their need for penitence (look that word up!) and to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Easter. 

Many Protestants, like myself, want to make this season special.  I encourage you to do the same this year. You might might want to fast - by giving something up that takes you away from your focus on God, or you might want to add a spiritual exercise or discipline to your life (like me.) In either case, be intentional about your devotion to God. If you chose to fast or give something up, make it purposeful. ( I could say I'm giving up smoking, but I don't do that anyway.) If you chose to do something extra for God, make it purposeful, too.  You might want to add a daily spiritual practice to your routine (this is what I'm doing.) You could set aside extra time for bible reading, or prayer or quiet time to be with God. You might want to participate in some special acts of kindness (to your brother or sister, for example.) Whatever you do during Lent, my hope for you is that it helps deepen your faith and prepares you for the Easter celebration to come. 

Check this out!

When I met with some other youth leaders last week from other Presbyterian churches in the Presbytery of Detroit, one of the youth leaders talked about this event he and his church were putting together. It's called Soulfire, and it's being held on Saturday, March 28. check it out that their website here:

Soulfire at Northbrook Church

Let me know what you think.... should we go?