Dog Art

While wasting some time in Knoxville, TN, I came across several doggie statues. Each had a different theme. Thought, if you wasting some time on this blog page, why not check out the Dog Art.

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This one was in front of a cafe. Blue bricks and a wooden jacket. What does that mean? Discuss.

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This one was in front of an old visitor center by the river. It is a little more abstract then the other ones with paint strokes all over the body.

• This one had the strongest connection to it's location. It was in front of a bank and it's body depicts hands holding money. Nothing to discuss.
  

The Dome

Took a group of committed youngin's to TEEN TALENT this past weekend. Had a good time with them. It's amazing the different, rich personalities you can have and still jive together as a group. They did their best on "Boogie Bounce" and although some were sad we didn't stay for the award ceremony (too, too late) I think we all had fun. A few brief notes: Light skinned rapper Jo-Izzy has skills. Get the three red coverall girls together and you got mayhem. Lil' Lyd knows she will be missed and she will never find another cool bald-headed youth pastor. Good job BGOT10!

i am speechless...

Okay... this has nothing to do with LOYC. It is my brother, Kenneth Atwood Castro. We have not spoken for about 6 months or so, and we just started back up again. He sent me his my space page... He produced a song. A Christian Reggeaton song. And to quote Elaine Benis from Seinfled: "I am speechless, I am without speech." Check it out: The first song is called Mi Dedicacion which means My Dedication. Then listen to "The Startoff." I'm saying, this is my brother! Leave comments.

coming soon

It's coming back... LOGOSOLOGY. It's gonna be different this time. It's going to better this time. It's going to be rewarding this time. If you are in the 8th, 9th and 10th grade then get with Pastor Jesse immediately. Find out what's it all about. Starts soon.

:[you better work]: Pt. 2

Here are four simple tips for working. And since the WORD says in "WHATEVER" we do, that means these four tips are not just for a paying job. It's not just for babysitting, mowing the yard, flipping burgers, sweeping the floor, running a cash register, designing a poster or prescribing medication... it is also for cleaning your room, writing an essay, helping in church or volunteering at the YMCA.

1. BE ON TIME There is a reason for schedules. They need you at that time. Be on time! In fact, be five minutes early. And if you are going to be late-- CALL. This shows professionalism, excellence. Working as a roleplayer in FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) we would have to be at different locations at specific times. If you were late, you would be holding up a whole class of Border Patrol agents or ATF students or CIA trainees. You would make their teacher mad, the students late and your boss upset. If you were late to a role, you would be fired! To many people were counting on you to be on time!

2. FOLLOW THE RULES When making a Double Whopper with cheese, there is a certain procedure. You first place the bottom bun with the two patties and cheese in the microwave and push #1. After the microwave beeps, you take it and put everything else on the burger, close it up and slide it in the bin. If you make the burger first and then place it in the microwave, you'll have hot soggy lettuce and tomatoes. If you don't put it in the microwave you'll have cold cheese. If you don't follow the rules, you'll do it wrong! Follow the guidelines, the rules, the directions your boss gives you. It shows you are dependable, responsible. Do not cut corners. Do it right!

3. DRESS APPROPRIATELY Each job has a dress code. Don't bend it. If you are required to wear a uniform make sure it is clean and worn properly. While working at Rack Room Shoes, I had to wear a tie, dress pants and dress shoes every day. That was part of the dress code. I didn't like it. Standing up for 8 hours in dress shoes is not fun. Especially when the pain is no longer just at your feet, but it has crept up to your knees. But since I worked there, I had to dress appropriately. I know that in some places, you must wear there clothing while on the job. If you work at the GAP they sure don't won't you sporting American Eagle shirts. And if you are working at HOT TOPIC, they don't want you looking like Martha Stewart. Find out what is expected of you when it comes to dress, and then adhere to it.

4. BE KIND This will get you far. Kindness is being polite. Not participating in gossip or backstabbing. Being pleasant to work with. I am not saying kiss rear ends or having a plastic smile on your face. I am saying, do your best to be a good person at work. You are representing yourself and God. When I worked at Central Supply and receiving in Arstrong, the other three guys knew I went to church and knew I was involved in Youth Ministry. One day, one dude, his name was Trey, pushed the subject of hypocrisy so far that I went over board. We had words and the outcome was not pretty. I felt bad. The next day, I went to him and apologized. It was very hard to do. But I had to show that although I messed up, and we all do, that I still was trying to be Christ-like.


I know it's just four simple rules. I know books have been published about work ethics and long lists have been writen on work tips. But I thought, If you just start off with these four simple rules, you will be on your way to making sure that in "whatever you do, you work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." [Colossians 3.23]

my first job

My first job was a summer work program in Killeen, TX. I was called by the agency to mow an elderly woman's yard. She had the lawn mower and gasoline, all she needed was someone to work.

I got up on Saturday morning and since she lived in the neighborhood next to ours, I walked over. It was probably a twenty minute walk and when I got to the house, the grass was jungle like. I knocked on the door and the frail woman opened the door. She showed me where everything was and I began to mow my first lawn.

As I went back and forth in the front yard, I began thinking... How much am I going to get paid for this? I didn't ask, she didn't say, it wasn't mentioned. I looked at my watch. If it took me an hour to do this job, what would be a fair rate? Then I began on the back yard. The grass was taller, the yard was bigger.

My mind was obsessed with how much I was going to be paid. $50? Was that good enough? You have to remember I was a pre-teen. I knew nothing about the money, the worth of what I was doing.

Finally, when I was done I placed everything back and knocked on her door. She opened the door, gave a quick look without stepping from her porch and thanked me. She handed me a ten dollar bill. I looked at the ten and thought... "WHAT!" I looked at her and said, "Ma'am, it'll be twenty dollars." I was pretty proud of myself because I usually didn't speak my mind. But I had been thinking about this for an hour and twenty minutes. The lady scoffed under her breath and seemed to struggle with doubling my pay. She finally went inside and exchanged my ten dollar bill with a twenty.

I walked away thinking I had won. My first job-- A success. But the lady never called again. And as I headed for home, I thought that next time, I had to communicate with my employer. If we had talked beforehand about the pay, then there would have been no surprises. I also wouldn't have obsessed about how much I was going to be paid and would have concentrated more on the job at hand.

Communicate! Talk, Talk, Talk. Ask questions! If you don't know, ask. If you don't understand, ask. If it's not clear, ask. If you are going to be late, call. If you are going to be absent, let them know ahead of time. If there is a problem, let them know. Don't keep your mouth shut, and then grumble. Be respectful, be specific and be succinct. Communicate!

A little bit of Cora in my life...

Let me brag on my baby girl for just one bit. She started soccer practice last Saturday. She loves her shoes, her socks, her shorts, the ball, running, playing with her cousin... We have the video, and it's great. The coach has received PCS orders so I am going to pitch in and assist a parent. 3 year olds running around and me yelling "NO HANDS!" Life is grand.

Look at that smile! I mean c'mon... Youth Ministry is great, but Family Ministry is awesome.

The B-Day Cake

Found this foto... thank you for the birthday cake!

Bubba The Bear

Every Sunday Morning this bear who likes Chocolate Chip and Fish Cookies comes out to talk to the "bawys and gurls." The kids seem to like him and I get a kick out of doing His voice. I stand in the back with a hands free microphone, get into my Bubba-zone voice (it's low, slow and a little dumb) and I chit chat with Ms. Sonya about the lesson. Why stick the picture here? On a youth page? Becuase it's part of my job description for the time being and so I want to share something on the verge of being embarrassing and fun. How does Bubba the Bear let Ms. Sonya know he is on the other side of the yellow door? He says... "Heeeeeeellllllooooooooooooo!"

:[you better work]:

So this month we will be concentrating on "work ethics." Sounds boring, trite? Not at all... we all have work stories to tell. Some funny, some sad, and the good ones are usually horrific. I personally used to think I hadn't had that many job experiences. I compared myself to Pastor Cowart who had been a little bit of everything from a mortician to a Ford Factory employee. I haven't embalmed bodies (yet) but I have been a burger flipper, a shoe salesman, a mailman, and a role player (not dungeons and dragons... hopefully I'll explain later). Now I am a Youth Director and intern Children's Minister with a little bit of graphic arts and counseling and fund raising and all that other stuff that comes with it.
Is there a standard to how we work? Yes.
Who has set it? God.
Why should He care? Becuase He cares about every aspect of our lives. From ou rspiritual well being to our physical well being... from hurts in the pasts to victories in the future... from being kind to one another to acting right at our places of employment.
And how should we act then? Simply. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will recieve an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." [Colossians 3.23-24]
And one point that may not be too obvious... this includes everyone, even those that don't have paying jobs. You mow the lawn for your parents? Volunteer at the local center? Work with a ministry at the church? Have a paper due in school? God says "WHATEVER YOU DO..." Pretty broad. Makes it much more simplier.
So quickly to end this part one... I have been doing Children's Ministry for four months now. It has not been fun in the sense I see youth ministry as fun. In Youth Ministry I can be pretty much myself. The jokes, the slang, the illustrations, the directness... It's a whole different ball of wax when it comes to the kiddies. I have to do a drive shift in my brain. And to be completely honest, the first couple of months I was not doing it "with all my heart." In fact, every day I prayed to God to release me. Until He, in His gentle way, showed me the error of my heart. I asked for forgiveness. Now, althought I will not say I am doing it perfectly, I am striving to do the part of my job with excellence.
I'll tell you stories from Burger Kin gin Germany and Rack Room Shoes at the Factory Outlets and delivering mail at Armstrong later on. For now, search your hearts. And in everythign you do, do like you are doing it for the Lord. I mean, ain't His reward going to be much bigger and last longer than anythign you get on earth?

LOYC Newsletter: April '06

:[cut it out]:

When I was growing up there was a show hosted by Dave Coulier (You may know him as uncle Joey in "Full House). The show was called "Out Of Control" and it was cheesy. At one point during each episode, Dave would get very close to the camera and say "Cut it out!" while making hand gestures for each word.

Obviously there are things in our lives we can, or rather should, do without. Relationships, attitudes, habits that keep us God. And we think, how can I get through it? How can I stop it? And I hear Dave Coulier loud and clear: CUT IT OUT!

Of course this will take a level of practicality that we are not used to. We tend to make things TOO spiritual. And it will take a level of discipline we are not used to. We expect others, especially God, to do everything. But we have a responsibility. We have a part in or relationship with God.

First off... Don't just stop a bad habit, replace it with a good one. (It takes 40 days of repetition to form a new habit.) If you try to stop doing something and you are left with a void, the chances are that you return to doing bad is great. So instead of going on line and looking at porn everyday after school-- join an after school tutoring program. Don't get me wrong, I know it's hard to stop doing something and the root of the problem must still be dealt with. But STOP doing it first. Then deal with the reasons WHY.

Secondly... Be accountable to someone, preferably someone who is Godly and trustworthy. If we only recognized the power behind accountability-- confiding your struggles with someone who will commit to hold you to your word of changing. If you are continually tempted with lying, tell someone such a youth pastor or mentor, and they in turn will on a weekly or daily basis ask you specifically if you have told the truth. The idea that some where in the near future, your confident will approach you usually is a deterrent to doing bad. And if you do fall into temptation, your accountability partner will help you get back on track.

Thirdly... Whenever possible, change your environment. Seems hard? Not really. If you a re abusing the internet at home, only use it at the library. Trouble with cursing? Check the music you are feeding off of and the "friends" you are hanging around. If they influence your speech, time to move on.

Does it seem drastic? Yes. But why should we shun doing the drastic for God? I mean, we just finished talking about "Running Hard After God." Let's be drastic. Let's go to the extreme with God. Cut out what does not belong. Let's do a clean up of our lives.

:[devotion time]:

The devotion "Coming Down From The High" is available to all especially those that experieneced Winterfest 2006. I mean, twnety-two thousand people all singing "Here I am To Worship" and now you are back in the real world? It can be difficult. But you can learn to experienece the same God everywhere. Start reading, praying and studying.

:[Winterfest Fotos]: Pt. 3

Favorite New Song by... Newsong

Heard a song on Saturday night of Winterfest and loved it. Had to go home and google the song. All I had to go with was half of the chorus which has been my mantra for the past three days: " I need you Jesus to come to my rescue, where else can I go?" Lo and behold, it's by Newsong and it's called "Rescue." AND!! To top it all off, I already had the CD in the Youth folder so I didn't have to buy it on iTunes. The little tag at the end (This world has nothing for me) is... what's the word I am looking for... empowering? encouraging? Here are the lyrics...

You are the source of the life
I can't be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of You

I need You Jesus
I need You Jesus

My heart is Yours for life
I need Your hand in mine
No one else will do
Lord I put my trust in You

I need you Jesus
To come to my rescue
Where else can I go
There's no other name
By which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You

This world has nothign for me
This world has nothign for me

:[fusion]: March 25 at 6 PM

:[Winterfest Fotos]: Pt. 2

:[Winterfest Fotos]: Pt 1

So how was your weekend?

It's Monday, and after three days, 16 hours of bus travel, minimal sleep, boxes of pizza, junk food galore, four rolls of film, 1.5 hours of video footage and a house strewn with suitcases and book bags... what can I say?

I can say that Winterfest this year was great. The temptation to compare previous years is always there, but you can't do that fairly. It's different teens, different chaperones, different artists, different hotel, different bus driver, different everything.

So I'll tell you what I loved this year. I loved seeing the transformation of each teen in their own journey to what God has called them to be. There is no denying a change in the gleam in their eyes on Sunday night after all was said an done. And for God to allow me the privilege to be a part, a catalyst in that change is awesome. I love it. I love laying low and watch God pounce on the teens and adults alike like a lion. At the right time, he strikes and their lives are forever changed. Too many tears to count, too much love to explain, too much forgiveness to enumerate, too much goodness to forget. Thank you God for being you.

And I can not deny that God always strikes at me as well. This time it was Friday night. As I pressed in through Praise and Worship, he sent someone to pray over my wife and I. Just lettign us know, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! It is awesome when God knocks on your door and says, I am still here.

So the pictures are coming... The stories will come... The memories will be there... And I am grateful to God.

Listen To This

• How many good things can be said about this man? He is awesome... listening to his passion for God, his talent as a musician and his anointed praise and worship leadership style makes it easy for me to give God my all while being renewed and refreshed and healed and...

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Hey, I know your ears have been craving to hear some reggae music by a Hasidic Jew... How I know? It's simple, I have too. Anyways, check out this dude MATISYAHU (Jewish for Matthew). His music has a positive message, the "King Without A Crown" video (currently playing on MTV) is cool, and it is different from what you are used to. Live a little outside your boxes!

• 

Kirk Franklin is a leader... I usually enjoy his fast paced stuff, but the song "Without You" and "Imagine Me" are beautiful. Check out the "Making Of..." clips and the "Looking For You" music video at his site.

:[running hard after God]:

To date I have participated in six 5 k races. The 2004 and 2005 bridge run over in Savannah hosted by Enmark, the 2004, 2005, and 2006 Tybee Run hosted by Memorial health and the 2005 City Market Run. I love running (or jogging, which better describes what I am doing). I can not do justice how I feel as I move with this mass of people toward our goal. Everyone has the same goal in mind. Everyone wants to win (or rather finish). Adrenaline rush is right.
Psalms 63.8 says "my soul follows hard after thee" [KJV]. Following hard? Not just following. Not meandering. Not strolling along. But following hard. Running hard after God. That is an awesome thought.
But why run? Is he running away form us? Does he not want to be caught? Why is he even moving? Shouldn't he be in one place at all times?
God himself does not change. But he continuely does new things. And for our relationship with him to grow and deepen, I believe he continuely moves. When Cora started crawling we owuld put something in front of her to entice her to crawl froward. Then she began wlaking and I would get in front of her saying, "Come on, Cora" with my hands outstreched. And sometimes when she was close enough I would take one more step back. It made her push herself. No she runs everywhere (a falls a lot).
God is in front of us, saying, "Come on!" And everytime we get close enough (read as, everytime we think we know Him) He "changes." He reveals somethign new. he takes one more step back so we can continuely run after Him. It makes the relationship vibrant. It certainly isn't dull and boring.
So, then, do you want to run hard after God? Well, do you even want to run? I mean, the activation energy needed to get us off the couch, put on some sneakers and get out the door is great. So is the activation energy needed to start a deep relationship with God. But it's worth it. Run after HIm. Run hard after God.

:[Winterfest 2006]:

Get your forms now! The information buzz is as follows...

Before You Go:

• Read, Sign, and Turn in a "Trips Rules & Guidelines Form"
• Read, Sign, and Turn in a "Liability Realease Form"

What To Bring:

• Bible
• Money: Enough for 3 meals for three days... suggested amount: $60
• If you want spending money, bring it
• Toothbrush (someone will lone you the toothpaste, but bring the toothbrush)
• Good Attitude

Schedule:

• Meet at the church parking lot at 11:59 PM on Thursday, March 9th
• Hit Knoxville, Tn around noon on Friday, March 10th.
• Friday Night Service
• Saturday mall shopping day
• Saturday Night Service
• Sunday morning: wake up, pack up.... then Sunday Morning Concert
• Head for home
• Back in Hinesville around 9 PM Sunday, March 12th

Hotel Information:

• La Quinta Inn
• 258 North Peters Road, Knoxville, TN
• 865.690.9777
• this is our hotel

:[addictive]:

Just two games I am addicted to now... Chicktionary is a word game and you knowhow i like those. Find as many words as you can. The "Uh, oh" the chicken gives you when you do something wrong is funny. The other game? I don't even know how to pronounce Nisqually but you move the square blocks around to make 'em disappear.

:[movie love]:

Yes, it's the month... and right now it's the day before... the big red heart day... but instead of talking about sex we are going to talk about "Movie Love" and how the media distorts relationships, love, and consequences. So as we explore the distortion of the L word hopefully we make a conscious effort to not be influenced by this world's media.

Games People Play

1. No lie... You gotta try SVEERZ. It's like simon says with music and when it's over the annoucner says your name.
2. A cute game with bugs.
3. Play Who Wants To Be A Millionare. I haven't gotten to question #10 yet.
4. There's no Alex Trebek, but Jeoperdy is fun. I get the first round but I can't guess the bonus round for the life of me.
5. Want a frustrating game? Hexxagon is for you. I got really mad losing to the computer.

:[face 2 face]: pt. 3

There's an old movie titled "Not Without My Daughter." It stars Sally Field, who marries a Middle Eastern man and moves overseas. After some time, she realizes that she does not wan tto lead the life that is being pushed on her. Sally Field decides to escape from her husband. He finds out and things get ugly. At one point, some peopel try to help summgle her out of the country, but she says she is not leaving without her daughter. The movie has a slow build up, but in the end, after a very long journey to saftey, she hears the flapping of the American flag at the embassy and she begins crying. She is free. And she has her daughterin her arms. Nothing was going to stop her from taking her child to safety and freedom.

God did it first. He wanted to nake a way for us to get back into an intimate relationship with Him. He did whatever it took to get us back. No matter what, He wanted a face to face relationship with us. He gave His only Son. Turned His back on Him at the cross. And brought Him back to life on the third day.

Now what about us on the other side of the relationship? Are we willing to say "No matter what" we will serve Him, love Him, live for Him? Do we have a "no matter what" attitude? Are we filled with determination that nothing can stand in our way?

When I think about the "no matter what" attitude... two things come to mind: first, what Job said "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." Secondly, the account of a trio of teenagers that stoo up to a king.

In Daniel chapter 3, we see three young adults who took a stand. They decided to live right. When the king decreed that everyone would worship a statue of himself, they determined in their hearts that they would not do such a thing no matter what the consequences. The consequence was being thrown into a furnance so hot it turned one of the kingsmen to ashes.

The trio still heldfast to the notion that it is better to do right no matter what.

Their "no matter what" attitude is epitomized in Daniel 3.18. After the king gives them one more chance to bow before his statue, the young'uns say that God will save them "but if He doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn't serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."

That's determination. That's guts. That's a "no matter what" attitude. We need to get this attitude in us if we want a face to face relationship with God. The attitude that says, no matter what happens, I will live for God!

:[places to go]:

• Wanna a cheap flight simulation? Move your mouse on the screen and pretend you are Clark Kent... Smallville anyone?
• Watch last year's Winterfest services.
• I don't know why, but I love Twistingo. It's Bingo with a twist? Whatever, it is a good diversion.

:[face 2 face]: pt. 2

the song says... "this is the air I breathe... your holy presence, living in me... i'm desperate for you..." and I think: Are we desperate for Him?

By desperate I mean extremely urgent, extremely intense want, need, desire.

If we stand in line for an hour and nothing moves, we get so frustrated we'd do anything to make somethign happen. If we are stuck in a small room where the air is so bad, so regunant that we can hardly breath, we use all our strength and all our know-how to get out of that room. Whatever it takes.

Desperation makes us do a lot of things. Usually desperation has a negative conotation. But when are we going to be desperate for God? Get to the point that we will do anythig, say anything, go anywhere, forget about everybody and concentrate on GOD... to touch Him, hear Him, see Him.

To be like the woman who had een bleeding for 12 years... to push people out of the way no matter what laws she was breaking... she wanted to get to Jesus and nothign was goign to stop her. She was desperate.

But how do we get like that? So driven, so insanely focused on God that nothign else matters? Does somethign bad have to happen inour lives? Or is it possible that in our pursuit of meeting face 2 face with Him , that we find out so much about who He is that this insaitbale craving for God begins to build up and can not be quieted until we are nose to nose with our maker. To smell the breath of God. To feel His eyelashes against our eyelids.

Until then... let's speak things that are not a though they were... "i'm desperate for you... i'm desperate for you..."

:[face 2 face]:

There are certain things that need to be done face to face such as breaking up with a girlfriend, settling an argument, interviewing an prospective employee, and getting to know someone. By the same token, to have a thriving, deep relationship with God, we need to have a face to face encounter with Him.
What scares us from having a face to face with God? Probably that when we get so close to Him, we can not fake anything. Nothing is hidden. We are vulnerable. He can see our flaws. Our true selves. By keeping God at arms length, we hurt ourselves.
Is it time to bring God close? To be eye ball to eye ball with Him. To be face to face with God. To let Him see our imperfections and our deep wounds.
When we drop the facade, when we allow God to get close, we will enjoy the benefits that come with a face to face relationship with God. He will help us through our hurts, heal us from our past and guide us into a victorious future. Get close to God. Get in His face. And then we will start mirroring Him.

:[peruse]:

Two books that i think are pretty good, pretty good... they deal with companies, marketing, advertising, relationships and all that worldly stuff. easily applicable to the church life, espicailly youth ministry.

• Never Wrestle With A Pig: Making it in the coporate world is very similar to making it in the "churchy" world... morals, ethics, ideas, advise... The title? Don't wreslte with a pig becuase the pig always wins and you end up dirty. Hmmmm? Think about it.
• Purple Cow: Just started reading this one, but man, good stuff. The jist so far? The world is filled with ordinary products, you have to be remarkable to be noticed. You must be a Purple Cow in a field of brown hefers.

:[onelife]:

In the parable of the talents, a manager hands three of his employees varying amounts of money. He gives Ray-Ray five hundred dollars, Ted two hundred dollars, and Bubba one hundred dollars. Each employee does something different with the money and when the manager returns he wants to know what happened with his money. Ray-Ray and Ted both doubled their money through wise investments. Bubba however did nothing with his money. He stuck it in the bottom of the sock drawer. The manager was so disappointed in Bubba he took his hundred and gave it to Ray-Ray.
We have one life to live. God gave us this life and we must make the most out of it. This life comes with a body we must take care of and talents and skills we must use for good. Don't be passive, seeing life pass you by. Be aggressive, take charge, do what you know is right!
Are you like Bubba and sticking your life in the bottom of the sock drawer doing absolutely nothing with it? Or are you investing your life wisely like Ray-Ray and Ted? Evaluate yourself before the manager comes back to check up on us.

Winterfest 2006

We are headed to Knoxville, TN on March 10 thru 12th, 2006.
Payment schedule is pretty simple... $27 every first Wednesday of the month between Ocotber and Feburary. Total Cost: $135.

Those that have helped with findraisers, make sure to get a post card from Ms. Michal to know your new balance.

My Praize 2005

phobia pt. 1

I went online to see the different types of phobias out there. Well i got about fifteen pages of phobias all from A-X (there are no phobias starting with Y or Z according to this list.) Some of them seem silly, like the fear of trees? Dendrophobia. Or what about the fear of puppets? Pupaphobia. (Actually one of our LOYC teens hates Kermit the Frog with a passion.) Take the test and see who well you know your phobias...

take the test....
1. testophobia
a. squids b. playing sports c. taking tests

2. xanthophobia
a. pills b. the color yellow c. taking showers

3. verbophobia
a. taking action b. eating green veggies c. words

4. venustraphobia
a. the planet venus b. trash c. beautiful women

5. lachanophobia
a. vegetables b. milk c. being late

6. nelophobia
a. all music by Nelly b. glass c. using a computer

7. opthalmophobia
a. big mammals b. the hippo c. being starred at

8. philemaphobia
a. kissing b. reading c. asking permission

9. vestiphobia
a. clothing b. spiders c. chalk

10. panophobia
a. bread b. everything c. taking pictures

answers:
1. c; 2. b; 3. c; 4. c; 5. a; 6. b; 7. c; 8. a; 9. a; 10. b

2 Corinthians 4.18
18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Fear deals with ignorance, false pretensions. When you focus on what you can see instead of what you know to be true.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Fear comes when we stop looking to God and start looking at the situation around us.
Fear is the opposite of Faith.

Just like being afraid of beautiful women or being afraid of glass may seem ridiculous, being fearful of our situations is not right. If we trust GOD and His word.

Truth University: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

you talking to me? (pt. 3)

As a quick recap, when we first started talking about prayer, we agreed that God wants open communication with us and we need and open communication with Him. Why? Because talking with God benefits us and not talking to God hurts us.

So moving on from that thought, we must talk to god no matter what!

Life gets hard at times. It also gets very good at times. And we sometimes, depending on our mood or our circumstances, will put off talking to God. But because of the first two points, we must never stop talking to God. Never!

(When Others Stop) Joshua was with Moses like an assistant. Whenever Moses went to pray, Joshua would follow as well. However, when Moses would finish praying, Joshua would stay behind. (Exodus 33.11). Just because others stop, doesn’t mean you have to. Moses was the spiritual leader, but Joshua needed more from God. I may sometimes offend you, the Pastor may sometimes rub you the wrong way. No matter what others do, do not let them stop you from talking with God.

(When Others Want To Stop You) Hannah was a woman who wanted a baby. She was made fun of by her family. When she went to church to pray, she was so passionate, so into talking with God, that the priest, the Pastor of the church, thought she was drunk. He told her to stop. Hannah explained what she was doing and the Pastor prayed for her and she got her baby. (1 Samuel 1.10-17). Hannah prayed when she was totally hurt and she also prayed when she was extremely happy (1 Samuel 2.1-10). When others want to stop you from talking to God, you must not give up!

(When You Want To Stop Yourself) There was a man in the Bible who went to Jesus and said, “If you want to heal my boy I know you can.” And Jesus replied, “If? All you need to do is believe.” And the man said something very powerful. The man quickly replied, “I believe. Help me with my doubt.” There are times when we want to stop ourselves from talking to God. We don’t “feel” like it. We begin doubting the benefits. We start to question if it is worth it. That is when we say, “God, I believe, but you must help me with my doubts.” And you push through.