Metamorphosis

Hey Guys, it's that time of year again. That's right, it's time for Metamorphosis 2011. This year our them is The Event. You don't want to miss this awesome time of worship with Seth Condrey and messages from Nathan Smith.

A Picture of Maturity

Ok, so this is my first post on here since I got here...sorry for being a slacker. I'm going to make up for it this month though as we have a lot going on. First, here are the notes from last weeks Impact:

A PICTURE OF MATURITY
1 Thessalonians 4

A committed Christian would have . . .

A life moving toward holiness

A life moving toward loving others

A life moving toward hope

A life moving toward respect

How do I do this? What will be the result?

Take the high road This will result in CLEAR DECISIONS

Be open to others This will result in STRONGER FRIENDSHIPS

Be confident in Christ This will result in a VIBRANT FAITH

Have the end in mind This will result in others COMING TO CHRIST


I hope you will join us this week as we look at what it takes to have the Heart of a Champion.

I will be posting info about the upcoming events we have that are right around the corner so keep checking back so you don't get left out.

The Gift of Perspective

One of my great friends, Stephen Snyder, just got back from South Africa where he spent a few weeks helping missionaries in a squatter camp. You can read more about it here.

He shared a bit of his trip to our students last Wednesday night and one part of his story really struck home with me.

He told the story of a young man, about 17, who he got to know while he was there. This young man had been through more than any old man would want to. He was on his own. He had seen his aunt burned alive by a group of men, he had been abused by his dad, and he was now completely on his own.

Stephen shared how this young man called him over one night and asked Stephen if there was anything he could pray about for him. Needless to say Stephen was floored. This young man asked to pray for Stephen. Unbelievable.

You know what this young man wants more than anything? To learn to read so he can read the Bible. Unreal. This kid has seen more than many of us will in our entire lives and he simply wants to know Christ more.

One thing I have learned in my short life is this... perspective is everything. I get physically sick sometimes at the things we get upset about. The pressures we crack under. We have no idea what hardship is. We have no idea what it is to be starving, yet we say that we are everyday we eat lunch late.

So the next time we update our facebook status with how our worlds our falling apart because we had a bad day, our friends have hurt us, or our relationships don't work out, remember this. There is a young man in South Africa who wants to learn to read so he can know Christ more.

Chick-fil-a

I visited a Chick-fil-a today with my family. As usual we had a great time. I was sitting there watching my daughter play in the indoor playground and saw a case of moist towlettes hanging on the wall right beside the door of the playground. I was really impressed by this. I looked at my wife and said “I am going to write a post about what the church can learn from Chick-fil-a.” Well, a few hours later and here you have it.

Chick-fil-a is incredible. I have never had a bad time in Chick-fil-a, they are always well staffed, always say “My pleasure”, always clean, the food is unreal (especially the nuggets), and they are prepared for their guests!

Now I could probably stop right there and let you carry the analogies over, but there is so much more I want to say! Well at least a few more lines.

They know who they are serving and they make every effort to make their guests comfortable, from moist towlettes on the walls and those really good mints, to having people come by to fill your cup or carry your tray to the table. They go out of their way to make sure you want to come back.

Think hard, have you ever had a bad Chick-fil-a experience?

What if people would say the same thing about our church or our youth group?

Hot Summer Nights

Face it, you have nothing better to from 6-8:30 on June 14-19. You should be at this! Great music, prizes, sporks, duct tape, sumo wrestlers, mountain goats, that white stuff that gets in the corners of your mouth, food, water guns, dodge balls, and striped socks. You should be here...could be fun!

Eikon Car Wash

Help us reach out to our community this weekend by washing cars for free! Stick around afterward for some free pizza some games and maybe a movie on the big screen in the FLC. You have to help wash to get in on the fun. See you there!

Nehemiah

Leaders aren't born. They are forged.

Take a glimpse into the life of a man who was forged into a leader and who rebuilt a city.

Join us for Nehemiah
Wednesday nights at 6:30

We Should Hang Out

Spring break is just around the corner. You know you are going to be bored. So bored. Unless your rich and own a beach house or something. You are going to be sooo bored. We should hang out. If you want to, we are going to hang out on Tuesday from 9-4. Bring some money for lunch and destination unknown! You should come. What else are you going to do?

You asked for it...

I am impressed! I am impressed with you guys! I have had so many of you come up and ask for books to help you as you spend time with a great God at home. Well, there is a principle of supply and demand that we are going to follow. Because of your demand, we will supply!

Coming soon, look for some great resources that will help you as you walk with God in your home and school! I am excited to see what God does through a group of students completely sold out for Him!

Stay tuned, its coming...

Come and Listen

God is moving in my life. God is moving in my wife’s life.

I am not talking about good quiet times, or consistent prayer. I am talking about a genuine move in which my wife and I are being changed. We are being dramatically changed. We are being ruined. Isaiah had a similar experience when he saw the God seated on a throne, exalted. I have to tell you it is the greatest feeling in the universe to be ruined by a Holy, Holy, Holy, God. I believe with all my heart that God is preparing us for something huge! I don’t know what it is going to be, where it is going to be, or when it is going to be, but I know that it is going to be great.

I have never been so sensitive to sin and the separation from God it results in, I have never been so open to the voice of God, I have never been so eager for a life that is far from ordinary. I am tired of living a pampered life in which I am more eager to get in debt for a car than giving to the needy. I am tired of complaining that I don’t have the latest greatest and failing to realize that I am in the top 3 percent of the world’s richest people. I am tired of warming a seat in church and never inviting anyone to sit with me. I am tired of being a professional pastor and part-time disciple of Christ.

I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in my family. I am excited to see how he uses my wife as she ignites for Him. I am excited to see what he does through me as I lead my family to the front lines for Christ. I desire to see what God will do when we start to live lives that require genuine faith in God instead of my savings account or retirement investments. I am ready to set the example for my kids to see that reading God’s Word is more important than watching American Idol, 24, Heroes, or Dancing with the Stars.

This is not about parading righteousness, this is not about reputation, this is about engaging culture and demonstrating that the Christian life isn’t about convenience, Sunday mornings, holidays, or meal time prayers.

You are invited.

God wants to work in your life just as he is in mine. He wants to move in you and leave you in ruins just like he is mine. It is never easy, but I can tell you from experience that it is the greatest, most incredible time of my life and it will be for you too. Are you ready to shake off the dust, to taste and see that the Lord is good? To break out of Christianity based on convenience? God is reaching out to you, inviting you to live an extraordinary life.

I would take him up on the offer.

Liberty U Lock-In

Attention all 6 - 12 graders! We are having another lock-in! Yes another one! This one will be at Liberty University and you can do a ton of stuff.

Basketball
Small groups
Video Games
Ice Skating
Inflatable games
Karaoke
Midnight Pizza
Swimming
Volleyball
Rally

All this for only 35 bucks! Ok, there are only 60 spots available so you pretty much need to sign up right now! Sign up here!

When: March 20-21
Time: 6pm - 8am
Where: Liberty University
Cost: $35
Who's Invited: Grades 6-12

You almost had it!

Have you ever met someone who seemed to have all the intangibles but never quite “got it” and never really did anything great? Even though they had all the potential in the world they never broke away from the pack. They simply remained mediocre. Or worse they consistently underachieved.

There is this guy I read about who was pretty popular. So popular in fact that all the people around him actually made him a king! Anyways, he had a ton of potential. I mean he was quite literally head and shoulders above everyone else. If anyone could have been great it was him! Sadly, the story doesn’t end with some triumphant accolades or peace for the masses. It ends with him falling on his own sword in battle. Its downright depressing.

So what was his problem? What kept him from being remembered as a great King who feared God? If we are honest with ourselves, he struggled from the same thing we struggle with. Partial obedience to God.

We are really good at compartmentalizing our faith. We bring it out on Sunday morning and say everything we are supposed to around the saints and then live like hell the rest of the week. We remain Luke warm. We remain mediocre. God wants to use us for great things, and yet because we only follow Him when its convenient we miss out on everything He wants to use us for!

I for one refuse to live like Saul anymore.

I want to be used by God for more, for things that impact all of eternity. I want to obey wholly the Word of God. I want my kids to know that I loved and obeyed God all their lives and I want them to see what God will do with one man fully committed to Him.

No matter where you are in life, its not to late to stop obeying partially. Stop giving God the leftovers. Stop saving your best for summer camp and metamorphosis.

Give God your all and he will take you farther and deeper than you could have ever imagined.

Lets not allow our lives to end with us falling on our swords in the midst of battle. Let us end our lives with a passion for God’s kingdom and hearts completely sold out to Him.

Metamorphosis

Live Love. Don't miss Metamorphosis this year! Grab some friends and sign up for a weekend that could change your life! This year we will Metamorphosis right here at Grey Stone and Saturday you will have the opportunity to impact lives by preparing 50,000 meals for the poor in Haiti. You don't want to miss it!

Sign up for Metamorphosis here.

Check out the Metamorphosis website here.

TXT

All right, I need numbers and carriers. We have a new TXT message system I want to use! So click the link, fill out the form, and check your messages! Just not while you are driving...

Sign up for our TXT messages!

Check it out...

Hype Type from Student Life on Vimeo.

You pumped yet?

Blessed

I was sitting at my desk this morning thinking about all kinds of things and I began to think about all the students and leaders in Eikon. I am a blessed pastor. Really, I am blessed beyond compare. I truly believe that I have the best students, the best leaders, and the most support and love of any Student Pastor in the world! You guys are incredible.

So I wanted to thank you guys. Thank you for being patient with me as I learn the ropes and deal with other responsibilities. Thank you for being a huge encouragement to me. Thank you for listening and asking questions and taking in the Word of God and letting it change your hearts. Thank you for surprising me with a big TV. Thank you for being a team I can count on to get things done. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for telling your friends about Christ. Thank you for the fun that you guys love to have and keeping me from being to serious. Thank you for reminding me to now sweat the small stuff, and keeping me on my knees in prayer. Thank you for continually showing me that I need Christ's help to do this.

Thank you guys for who you are! There is no where else I would rather be.

Fanatic

Grab a few thousand of your closest friends and bring them to Fanatic tonight, Wednesday Dec. 17, in the FLC at Grey Stone. You dont want to miss it!
The party starts at 6:15, see you there.

Wedgie Proof Underwear

Just watch it...

Ripstik

Ok, this post has no spiritual guidance nor does it have to do with anything important. Over the Thanksgiving holiday I spent some time eating, thinking, talking, sleeping, and learning to ride a ripstik. Yes, I learned to ride a ripstik. I did pretty stinking awesome too! No really, I did. First time ripstick rider, I can go up hill! Well, little hills. Well, more like slight inclines, but I can go up them. Its all in the hip action.

Anyway, thought someone out there would give me some "your in great shape and have tremendous natural athlesticism and should have played in the NFL" points.

Never Underestimate

Never Underestimate from Student Life on Vimeo.