Think On This

"It's extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases."

-Bono

Bash 'n Burn

This last Wednesday night our students once again gathered with four other area youth groups for The Burn. The Burn is a quarterly gathering for the purpose of bringing the Church together in worship and fellowship. Read about a couple of our past Burns here and here.

This time we added a fun twist. Along with a great BBQ we brought in two cars to smash! I mean really....how often do you get to swing a sledge hammer into an old car? Great time!

After all the fun outside we moved indoors for an amazing time of worship. To bring together 145 students from different youth groups, and even have the worship band represent three different groups is an incredible experience!

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Changed and Going

Yet another video demonstrating the power of a transformed life. All people who allowed God to take their gifts, abilities, passions and fears, and move them to the front lines of making a big difference for His Kingdom.



Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

HT to Gerrard for the video.

Altar Boys

This one gets filed in the "blast from the past" category. Back in about 1985 I worked as a roadie for one of Christian music's earliest punk bands, the Altar Boys. They were a band influenced by the early Southern California punk rock scene, and were together from 1982 through the 90's.

Here is where it gets fun. When they made their first music video in '85 I was invited to be a part of it. Along with my love for music, I also loved skateboarding, so imagine my excitement when I was asked to ride my skateboard and be in a music video!

Thanks to the wonder of YouTube, I just found that little gem of a video. Hang on because it's old and low budget. Oh, I'm the sleeveless kid riding up on his skateboard and then hanging out in the garage.

The American Teen

MSNBC has run an excerpt of "It's Complicated: The American Teenager" an incredible photo essay of the American teen, in which photojournalist Robin Bowman spent four years driving across the US photographing and interviewing more than 400 American teens.

It's an incredible, and artistic, look into the struggle that life is for many of today's teenagers.

It's a reminder of why I do what I do.

Click here to view this amazing photo essay slide show.