I sat in my car and read the texts I received from the small group in youth D-class that morning. They were amazing.

I taught a lesson called “Something to Say”, sharing how each of the disciples died a martyrs’ death–all but John.

“Why would they give their life? Why would they keep talking about Jesus even after they had been imprisoned, beat, chased out of town, and eventually beheaded, scourged, boiled in oil, crucified sideways and upside down…”

Because they had something to say. (more…)

Can you imagine a missions trip with no boundaries? What an amazing idea! Want to get involved? OnlineMissionsTrip.com has picked up steam for the February 1-14 online mission trip!

To give you a sense of what this “missions trip to Facebook” has grown to, there are youth groups from all over the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and even a group from Bermuda that have officially registered at OnlineMissionsTrip.com, accounting for almost 2,000 teenagers! That’s AMAZING! Keep spreading the word, guys!

There’s plenty of resources available for pre-trip training for your group (or you) here:
http://www.onlinemissionstrip.com/pre-trip-training/ (more…)

I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. (Psalm 119:11 THE MESSAGE)

Boxers or briefs?

Nunya! Right?

But maybe a good question to ask is “What’s really going on underneath?” You know, in your private life when no one’s looking. That seems like a personal question, but what happens then is who you are. It’s the unmasked version. It’s more than who you are, it’s what you are becoming.

Paul isn’t talking about Fruit of the Loom™ when he describes the fruit of goodness, but he is describing underwear. It’s what’s under the mask. It’s who you are when no one is holding you accountable and you’re flying solo. It’s how you resist (or not) when things try to trip you up spiritually. It’s taking sin to the light if it’s tripping you up in the darkness.

Sometimes people treat faith like a favorite T-shirt, wearing it out in public and then cramming it under the bed until its needed the next time. It’s tough to make it daily in your faith life when your private world has nothing to do with God, or if private sin is getting in the way.

So, what’s a person to do?

Invite God in and ask him to help you live your faith life the same privately and publicly. Spend time with God daily and soak in his Word. Talk to God about things that matter. He’s not going to be shocked by what you show him, but he can make it right. Extend an open invitation for God – and anybody else – to roam freely through the hidden places of your life.

Want to take your faith deeper? Check out Suzie’s book, Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway?

It’s a great one-on-one tool for teens who desire to make their faith their own. It’s also a perfect resource for small groups, discipleship class, or Sunday school.

 

One of our favorite resources is Real Life Downloaded – Sunday School that Clicks! Need a lesson for Sunday or small cell group? They have hands-on lessons and great teaching ready-to-go.

This week’s lesson? Looking Through the Keyhole. It’s figuring out what’s important and what’s not.

Check it out!

Pure: a 90-day devotional for the mind, body & spirit

by Rebecca St. James, best selling author and musical artist

When Rebecca was 12 years old she attended a program at her school that significantly impacted her life’s story. A speaker asked people to come forward if they felt God leading them to give their talents and gifts to Him. She responsed and that was the same year God began to lead her into music.

Rebecca feels that her God-given purpose is to encourage people to stand for God, to live for Him, and to live a life of worship.

Which is exactly how this book feels as you read it. Daily devotions draw you deep in the heart of a relationship with God, where purity is less about the outside and more about listening to and responding to the voice of God and knowing and being led by Him. (more…)

One of our favorite sites is Planet Wisdom. It’s chock full of great articles, conference news, music, and movie reviews. This is a current review of:

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, reviewed by Steven Harrell

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Rated PG-13 for mature material and sensuality.
reviewed by Steven Harrell

Excerpt of Review: Most of the anticipated summer releases this year have been aimed at the male species. The huge success of “The Dark Knight” is sure to further fuel the latex-and-complicated-backstory frenzy. But “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2″ is a movie built just for you, ladies, and without nearly as much sex or city (but even more product placement) as the summer’s other movie about four female friends.

The Story
“Sisterhood 2″ picks up three years after the first movie left off. (more…)

IHOP. Not the place with the delicious pancakes, but it’s just as awesome. 

Nearly ten years ago a guy and a few students got together to pray.

Talk about a marathon, this prayer meeting is still going on. Students have been talking to God night and day since. With every prayer meeting having a full worship team, it totals 84 two-hour prayer meetings a week with over 1,000 people involved, continuing over seven years of unceasing night and day prayer. (more…)

I need a bible scripture or advice about jealousy and real beauty because I get jealous easily, especially about apearance. Like, I believe that other girls are more beautiful than me. That’s why I look for scriptures about what real beauty is in the eyes of Jesus Christ. I am having a hard time finding one.

Than you very much. =] Alyssa (more…)