Video from Sunday, December 20th

Surprise!

Change Your Clothes -- Sunday, December 20th

Today we continued our series on the Book of Genesis. Jacob had left Canaan to escape his brother and find a wife, on his way out God talked with him and promised him safety and that he would return to the land of Canaan. And sure enough Jacob returned and God protected him, even helping him to make up with his brother. In chapter 35 of Genesis Jacob is told by God to go build an altar and start to worship him. Jacob tells his household to do 4 things, which we will apply to our lives. #1 he tells them to get rid of their idols, #2 to go and purify themselves, #3 to change their clothes, #4 to build an altar.

If we are going to choose to follow God we must do these things as well. #1 Get rid of idols from your life, which means to figure out what it i you are serving or wht you are doing wrong and then stop doing it and stop serving it. We need to be honest with what is going on. #2 Purify yourself, which means to ask God for forgiveness for your sins. #3 Change your clothes, which means change how you think, act, who you hand out with, and where you hang out at. We need to repent, which means turning completely from the thigns that we are doing wrong and start walking a different way. #4 Build an altar, which means we need to make it so you won't forget your decision. Tell others, write it down, do whatever it takes os that you will remember, since then it will be harder to turn back.

You need to decide who you will follow and if God you need to get rid of idols, purify yourself, change your clothes, and build an altar.

I give this morning: B
Favorite moment: Joshua's definition of Samuel (lack of God)

Videos from Wednesday, December 16th

Swing Music

Hip Hop Music

A Lovely Song

8th Annual White Animal Gift Exchange -- Wednesday, December 16th

Tonight we had our 8th Annual White Elephant Gift Exchange
Check out our photos at http://thetabyouth.spaces.live.com/

Videos for Sunday, Decmeber 13th

Should He forgive?

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness -- Sunday, December 13th

Today we continued our study of the book of Genesis by looking at Jacob and Esau once again. In this portion (Genesis 32 and 33) we find Jacob about to meet up with Esau for the first time since he left many years before. Esau, if you remember had threatened to kill his brother, that is why Jacob had left. Now, Jacob returns with his family and herds to Canaan, where his brother lives. He splits his heards into 3 sections, send out 3 big gifts to Esau trying to convince him to not kill him by buying him off. He then goes on and bows before his brother. Esau comes running at him...and hugs him. He has forgiven his brother. Then the next day, Jacob sneaks off so that if Esau changes his mind he won't have to face him.

What is forgiveness? It means to give up a resentment, to cancel a debt, to pardon or absolve a wrongdoing. This isn't pretending like it didn't happen or accepting blame that isn't yours. To often we have the idea that we have to buy our forgiveness or that someone else ahs to earn our forgiveness before we can forgive them. God wants us to forge each other, because he has forgive us so much, and to forgive just as freely as he did us (Ephesians 4:32). God wants this from us and it can be difficult, but it is good thing to do. Maybe today you need to ask someone for their forgiveness...go and do it. Maybe today you need to forgive someone, do it, even if they have never asked for forgiveness!

I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Calling Haley, "Debbie Downer"

Videos from Wednesday, December 9th

Beaker Sings

Charlie Brown Christmas -- Wednesday, December 9th

Tonight we talked about the real meaning of Christmas. the world teaches us that Christmas is about money, about giving or getting gifts, or about family. And it is true that it is fun to have money and fun to spend it on others as well as recieve things we don't have. It is also fun (usually) to spend time with our families but that isn't what christmas is about. Luke 2:1-20 tells us that Christmas is about Jesus coming to this earth as our savior. It is good news for us becuase it shows God's love for us. It is when God came to us to save us since we couldn't get to Him on our own. If I could define christmas with one word it would be: HOPE!

We lieve in a very hopeless world. There are wars, homelessness, rape, drugs, fights, fear, abuse, etc... Your world might feel hopeless too. Maybe your family is falling apart, or you freinds have been fighting, maybe you are failing school, depressed, lonely, and lost. No matter how bad your life is, no matther how dark your world gets there is hope. God can burst through that darkness in your life and bring light. If you let him in your life, let him take control of the situations, no matther how bad things are, with God there is always hope! Just as he came to this world over 2000 years ago, bringing hope to a very dark world, he can come into yoru heart and bring hope ino your very dark life.

I Give Tonight: A+

Favorite Moment: (Tie) Shin kicking, Cross lighting, or Sticking tongue to metal story

Video from Sunday, December 6th

Video played in honor of Lacey and Emma

Wrestling with God -- Sunday, December 6th

Today we continued the story of Genesis by reading about Jacob in Genesis 32:24-30. In these verses Jacob is about to meet up with Esau (his brother) for the first time since he left trying to avoid being killed by him. The night before he ends up wrestling with a man (either a pre-incarnate Jesus or an angel) but won't give up all night long, even after being severly injured, because he wants the "man's" blessing. Many times we have wrestled with God, praying for an answer to the questions that we seek or trying to grow closer to Him, but what our response is, is very important. We could never wrestle with God and just do our own thing but then we will end up in trouble and lost. We could quit before we get resolution because we become impatient, lazy, or hurt. Or we can be like Jacob and refuse to stop wrestling with God until we get our answer or until we have a closer relationship with God. In Daniel 10:1-14 we find a story where Daniel ends up having to pray 21 days for an answer. This should teach us that sometimes it takes time for God to answer. We need to get away from distractions (tv, internet, cell phones, video games, friends) and actually listen. And finally we need to not give up, ever.

I give this morning: B
Favorite Moment: Josh almost losing to Becky while arm wrestling

Video from Wednesday, December 2nd

O Holy Night (beautifully sang)

Frosty the Snowman -- Wednesday, December 2nd

Tonight we talked about why Christmas exists. It is a celebration of Jesus coming to this earth. He came in order to (as 1st timothy 1:15 says) "save sinners." God desired a relationship with mankind again, but sin had seperated us from Him. His solution was to take our penalty upon Himself, but dying for us. Jesus came, being God, in order to restore that relationship with humanity. He died in order to save us all. And then came back to life showing that he defeated death and that he was really God. You can have a relationship with God if you follow these three simple steps: 1. Beleive that Jesus is God. 2. Ask for forgiveness. 3. Pursue a relationship with Him, by spending time with Him.

I give tonight: C-
Favorite moment: Alex Sullivan's question about Santa Claus and Jesus