Bigger or Better

What a night! Tonight we played the game, "Bigger or Better" instead of doing our standard routine.. and it was AWESOME! Gosh it was fun. I think we had right around 40 students and all our leaders had cars and we bused ourselves all around South Salem asking people to trade what we had (every group started with a plastic spoon) for something bigger or better. The final objects brought back we a large footstool, a pickle jar with 10 dollars in it, a semi-broken big screen tv, the deed to a house (for one hour), a under-the-counter space-saving can opener, a Winnie the pooh bear, a plastic bucket, and a few other silly things. It was such a fun night with so much energy! I've never seen Limeberry seem so alive with excitement. Sometimes it's important to take a break from the usual and just do something out of the ordinary, and Bigger or Better absolutely fits the requirements of that! Special thanks tonight to the Marshall's for hosting our team for dinner, to the Butler's for hosting us before we went out into the neighborhoods, to Limeberry for allowing us to invade them once again, to Sue and Perry Webb and Billy for volunteering to be adult drivers,

Question Night!!

(This is where the video is supposed to be, but I've been trying for the last hour to get it to load and it wont. Sorry!)
Tonight was our question and answer night, which meant we had our normal Young Life (songs, games, laughter, talking about camp) but then, instead of a talk we gave everyone a bunch of note cards and pens, and told them any question is open to them, ask away. After letting everyone write down their questions all the leaders sat up front and we tried to answer as many as we could as honestly and fairly as possible. We had thirty five questions so we couldn't get to all of them at Young Life, but I continued answering questions with a group of ten or so people and we got through all of them but four. Special thanks tonight to Mike and Joy Fargo for a delicious dinner, to Mark and Rebecca Butler! I figured rather than write more about Young Life tonight I would just list all the questions students asked so you all could see the depth of the thoughts of young people today!
Questions:
Still Not a Christian, what now?
Does God rule the earth or does Satan?
How do I glorify Jesus in Sports?
How do we love when there is so much hate going on around us?
How do we know the Bible is true?
Why are there so mand different kinds/versions of the Bible?
Are people that say they believe in God but don't live a Christian life and still live a sinful life saved?
Can you lose your salvation?
Is there March Madness in Heaven?
Is/Why is cussing bad?
Why does God not always answer prayers in the way you want Him to answer them?
Why does God allow pain in the world?
Is the world going to end in 2012?
What do you think the end of the world will look like?
Do you believe in the rapture?
How do you know when you can trust someone when they have lied so many times before?
Does it matter that Jesus died on the cross?
Why is mormonism wrong?
What do you believe about predestination vs. free will?
Does God remember our sins forever?
There are times I feel alone, where is God at when I need Him!?
If God loves everyone why would He create a huge war that kills His own people?
Once a person has received salvation is there any way they can lose it?
When you're faced with temptation what helps you get through it?
If our purpose in life is to love God, then why didn't he keep us in Heaven to praise Him rather than making Earth?
What will Heaven be like?
Sometimes I don't "feel" God's love, although I thoroughly believe in, what verse can I remember to feel better?
Why does God throw things at us when He knows we can't handle it?
Why are humans so prone to give in to the ways of the world?
How do we know Jesus loves us?
Is it worth going to camp?
Once you lose something can God help you get it or earn it back? and how?
What do you believe about "once saved always saved?"
What is your most embarrassing secret?
Why do I feel so alone at times?


SO there ya have it? I bet you wish you got to answer those on the spot! It is an honor to a part of this ministry. Thank you for blessing me with the opportunity speak into the lives of young people!  -Mat

TIme Flies

Phew! Tonight was a whirlwind! One minute we, the leaders, had finished setting up and were having worship before all the students arrived and the next minute I was standing upfront giving the talk. PHEW, things just went quick tonight! We had a ton of energy tonight and people sang and clapped their hearts out. It was just an all around really fun night to be a part of. Tonight I shared about "the gospel" I attempted to start in Genesis and walked from the creation of people all the way through to Jesus heading back to Heaven. It was A LOT, but next week we are having a Question and Answer panel and I just wanted to get everything out on the table before we ask students to try to engage in some deep questioning about the bigger issues in life. So, though it was a ton of information, I think it was a talk the "landed." Students responded, and the room was focused. I love this job, it is such an honor to be a part of it a ministry as wonderful as this, and I am SO thankful for each and every one of you. Your prayers and financial support are essential to the success of this ministry and I deeply hope that each and every one of you feels as much a part of Sprague High School Young Life as each and every leader we have. Thank you all for who you are and the blessings are in my life and the lives of dozens of leaders and students who you bless. Special thanks tonight to the Webbs for hosting us leaders for a DELICIOUS dinner, of course to the Butlers for opening their home to us one again, and to Limeberry for letting us invade their business with so many high school students every week! You are all WONDERFUL!! -Mat