Name... What's In A Name

The LOYC Praise and Worship Team has a new name... engage... check out the definition of "engage" by clickign on the image above. We meet every Wednesday Night at 5:30 PM for practice. Looking for musicians. Come on!

Camp-Pa-Looza

Just finished one week of camp. 'Bout 500 teens plus 120 staffers converged on the Tifton, GA Camp Grounds. Cafeteria food (remeber the square pizzas! Yes!) early mornings, late nights, sports, ministries, singing, praying, crying, sweating... good times. How about the girls dumping boys at the drop of a hat? The cmap flings? How about my kids making me proud by the way they acted? How about G8 gettign cleaniest cabin twice! How about I don't think Breunna Crawford wouldn't last one day in those cabins. How about I missed seeing Jamie Sharp doing rec. How about someone said i looked like Kenny Chesney... who is that? How about I had a blast on the 25 foot tall water slide and when it ripped and started to deflate I was on the top. How about you still reading this and I don't even have pictures to show.. If you took pictures send them to me: jatwood@liveoakchurch.org. Bye Bye. Oh, one more: How about I am going agin next week for Junior Camp.

Is Christian Hip Hop An Oxymoron?

Recently I have had some articles, websites and parents bring to my attention the culture of Hip Hop. I have been chewing it over to get a better handle on it. I don't have an opnion on the matter yet. I will. Soon hopefully. In the mean time, here are some articles (to be balanced, some are pro, some are against) I have found. Folks, read 'em. Get intelligent. Think for yourselves. If you have any comments leave 'em.

• "Holy" Hip Hop and Hip Hop As Culture
• Holy Hip Hop genre brings gospel to urban America
• Hip Hop Ministry Attracts Youth
• News Article
• Check The Origin
• Another Article

No Reason...

Thinking of a good reason why to post another pic of my daughter on the youth church page. Couldn't come up with one. No reason 'cept she is cute.

My Space [pt 2]: Who's Your Head?

So we agree that we long to belong to something-- either a group, club, organization, clique...something. Depending on what we are a part of, thier is also authorities, rules, people we come under. Who've heard the sayin g"Who's your daddy?" Well, you've got answer this one... "Who's your head?" Who is the head of your group? Of your life?

In 1 Corinthians 12.20, it states that although we are many members, we are a part of one body. And the head of that body is Jesus Christ. If we choose to become part of the BODY, we chose to be lead by Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God.

Some of us decide that we want to become part of the world. In Ephesians 6.12 it says we are not to be a part of this world but fight the influences of this world and it's dark rulers. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." If we are a part of the world, then the question still remains, "Who is your head?"

I encourage you, choose to be a part of the body of God. Even if you don't know what your PART is in this BODY, choose to make Jesus the head of your life. You choose Him and you choose blessing (good stuff) in your life. You choose the world and you choose curses (bad stuff) inyour life.

The first step? If you have never accpeted Jesus Christ, you can do so right now. Romans 10.9-10 says you must do two things. [1] Confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord (head) of your life and [2] believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Take this time to ask God for forgiveness of your sins and accept him in your heart and as head of your life right now.

Coming Up

Two Big Events In July You Won't Want To Miss.

Pixar... Lesson Learned

We took Cora to see the movie "CARS" Saturday evening. It was good family entertainment. Pixar some how can take an inanimate object and make you care for them. Care for a car? Yeah. How about when the rusty old, hilbilly tow truck tells Lighting McQueen, the rookie shiny red sports car, "I knew I was right about you." And McQueen asks about what. Matar's response: "That you would be my best friend." When that happens you realize, hey, this story like all the other Pixar movies has a heart.

Pixar's mantra? Don't rush art. They give every movie a heart. Didn't we feel sorry for Dory, the blue forgetful fish in FINDING NEMO, when she told Nemo's dad that with him she felt like she was home. Or when Mr. Incredible looks at his wife Elastigirl and screams "I can't loose you!" How about when Mike and Sulley in Monster's Inc. have to say goodbye to Boo? Didn't you feel sorry for Woody when Buzz LightYear was taking his place? All these tug at our heart. A cartoon. Animation. Computer graphics on a film strip moving us...somewhere.

So what do i take from this? The medium is not as important as the message. the vessel is not as important as the cargo. The packaging is not as important as the item itself. Every Wednesday night, and any other opportunity for that matter, that I have to teach, guide, encourage, push my teens to a better, deeper relationship with God-- I have to focus on the what is important. The heart of the matter. Sure I'll spend time on the presentation. Making it eye catching. Enjoyable. Interesting. But the main thing will remain the main thing. The message... the good news... the heart of it all.

Who knows, maybe one night I'll figure out a way to put a monster, a bug, a car, a fish and a superhero into my illustration. Till then, it's Jenga, costumes, and power point presentations... right? right? anyone?

Toy Story A Bug's Life Toy Story 2 Monster's Inc. Finding Nemo The Incredibles Cars

Last Chance For Youth Camp

Couple of you all have been asking about youth camp applications and worker applications... you gotta add $10 for the late fee but it's still a good deal.

Youth Camp Application or Youth Camp Worker Application.

Don't Forget

There will be no Wednesday youth or children's programs during the month of June as we give our volunteers a well deserved break. We will be kicking back on Wednesday, July 5th with a Concert. Details coming soon.

My Space [pt 1]

I apologize for posting late. I tried this afternoon and the blogger site was under renovation and maintenence. If you need to get a hold of me, you have my numbers and you can also email me at jatwood@liveoakchurch.org.

We all want to belong to something. Maybe some more than others, but it's in our nature to herd. To be a part of a club, organization, group, whatever. Even when we don't consciously choose to be a part of something bigger, greater... we somehow get placed into cliques. The internet now has one of the most popular groups around... MYSPACE.COM. There tag line? A place for friends. So even through the cyberspace, you can become part of a group.

If you've watched any teen booper movie, you know they are big on the idea of groups. Watching "Mean Girls" or "High School Musical" you know that there are the Jocks, the Drama Group, The Cheerleaders, the Academics, the Skaters, the Smokers... And although these types of movies simplify teen life, we know the different divisions exist.

So, we all need to belong and there are groups out there to belong to... which one will you CHOOSE to belong to? In the New Testament, Paul writes about a great group-- a group that believe in Christ-- a group he calls THE BODY. In this body, everyone has a part. Not everyone can be an eye. Not everyone can be a toe. Some are little hairs on the back of the neck, others are viens running down the legs. In this body the head is Jesus. And in this body you can find your place.

You must CHOOSE daily to be a part of the body of Christ. No other group or organization in the world has benefits like the BODY. No other club or clique has the power like the BODY. Don't you want to be a part of the BODY?

This month we will delve into how, what and why we should be a part of the Body of Christ. We all have a palce in the kingdom. I will leave you with this thought I heard tonight in Camp Meeting: "If you were a banana, stay in the bunch. Becuase if yo leave the bunch, you are liable to get peeled and eaten." Discuss amogst yourselves.