Redlands Church of Christ Youth Group

Christmas Party 2009!

2009-12-13T22:53:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out for our annual youth group teen Christmas party at the Kays house. The scavenger hunt at the Tyler Mall was a tight competition. Congratulations to Davina and Jen who took 1st place and Sam and Lizzy who took 2nd. And congratulations to Rikki for taking home the bonus gift card in our gift card exchange.

"God's Plan for Sex" - This Sunday!

2009-09-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

After some thought, I have decided to have this Sunday's lunch & Bible study at the church building. We'll have lunch after our regular Bible class ($3 per teen) and then we'll kick off our new monthly Bible study, "God's Plan for Sex." Pick up time will be at 2:30 at the building.

I want to communicate a few things to you parents about this study. I am excited and a little nervous to start this study. Nervous because I truly want it to be a powerful and important experience for your teens. I have been studying and collecting material on the topic of sex and continue to be convincted about God's plan for sex. I think this will probably be one of THE most important studies I've done with the kids while I have been youth minister. It's looking like this is going to be a 4-part study (so we'll have 1 lesson per month). And for one lesson in particular (probably the 3rd one) I'm looking to split the boys and girls into separate groups with separate locations.

The resources I have been studying and will be drawing from for this study are:
"The Power of Sex: Helping Students Understand God's Plan for Sex" by Doug Fields
"Sex & Dating: A Bible Study for Youth Groups" by Michael and Hayley Dimarco
"Good Sex: A Whole-Person Approach to Teenage Sexuality and God" by Jim Hancock & Kara Eckmann Powell

I wanted to share this with you because this is not a subject I am treating lightly. I hope you will strongly encourage your teen to attend and will discuss with your teen what is talked about and presented. When I was growing up I felt like I had a great relationship with my parents and remember talking very openly with my father about sex. That being said - there were still certain questions that I had that for whatever reason I felt uncomfortable about going to my own father with first. I thank God for my youth minister (Steve Smith!) and that I had a Godly mentor with whom I could ask those questions.

Soles4Souls Fundraiser

2009-09-15T22:19:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday during our worship time we announced that Brooke McGee was our winner for bringing in the most donations for the Soles4Souls fundraiser (her brother Brett) was a close second. Check out the 90 pair of shoes that were donated - including 25 brand new pairs of Vans courtesy of Rebel Skate & Surf (owned by Mary Morrison's grand-daughter and grand-son-in-law)! God is good!

End of September Activities

2009-09-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

I need to let you all know about the activities coming up for the rest of this month. There have been some changes so please read and take note.

The activity for this weekend will be a dinner and movie night Saturday night at 5:00 at the church building. There was talk of a potential trip to Magic Mountain scheduled for this Saturday, but to be honest, I don't think we quite have the money in the youth fund to pull it off at this time. And after being gone for so long, I think it would be good to just hang out with the teens and have fun together. I'm looking forward to it!

On Sunday, September 25th, we will have a fundraiser LUNCH. Yup, you read that correct. Carol Parks and I are organizing a spaghetti lunch for the entire church. Because of this we will NOT be starting our Bible study on 'God's Plan for Sex' that Sunday. We will begin that Bible study on Sunday, October 4th. I will let you know how you parents and teens can help for our spaghetti lunch.

Hello!

2009-09-12T15:12:00.000-07:00

In case you're wondering where we've been - well, actually we've been quite a few places! But the reason the blog has been dormant has been because we had a very bad virus on our computer and could not access our blogs! But everything is now fixed! So expect future updates sooner rather than later. To kick the blog back into action, here is a fairly provocative picture taken on the street.

Back to School Souls4Souls Fundraiser

2009-08-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to announce that for our teen fundraiser we are partnering with Souls4Souls Inc., the shoe charity, August 9-30, 2009 in an effort to “Change the World One Pair at a Time”.

Every 23 seconds, Soles4Souls Inc. gives away another pair of shoes to someone in need.The shoe charity has earned glowing endorsements from Hollywood stars and professional athletes, but the people who truly make the non-profit organization effective are those who partner with Soles4Souls in its mission of Changing the World One Pair at a Time ™.

That’s where our youth is getting involved – by becoming the hands and feet of Soles4Souls in Redlands.In addition to helping Soles4Souls reach needy people around the world, Redlands Church of Christ youth group is also raising critical funds for their own programs.

“At this time of year, when we are buying back to school items for our kids, we thought this fundraiser would be a good way to raise awareness about those in need of the most basic living essentials. Not only does it help a great cause, but it is a unique way to fundraise for our youth group. We are looking forward to this service project. We’re hoping that while people shop for back to school clothes and supplies they can donate five to ten dollars to help a child somewhere who cannot afford shoes,” explains Jeff Partain, Youth Minister, Redlands Church of Christ.

Like many other schools and organizations, Redlands Church of Christ often utilizes fundraising programs to generate critical revenue for its operations and goals. The Soles4Souls program provides an innovative alternative to traditional fundraisers, so students are able to raise money while making a significant difference in the lives of others. Here’s how the program works:
Students collect monetary donations from family, friends, teachers and neighbors for the purchase of new Soles4Souls clogs or flip-flops.

Soles4Souls ships the shoes directly to people in need, domestically and internationally.
For every pair of $5 flip-flops or $10 clogs sponsored, the school organization receives 40% of the proceeds in the form of a check from Soles4Souls, along with unique incentives for students and the programs they are representing.

LIFE Group BBQ

2009-07-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

We interrupt this regular youth group blog with some pictures from our awesome Life group. Yesterday, we had a special Life group gathering at the Kay house where some great food was served up. Steve did a great job manning the BBQ and supplied plenty of burgers and hot dogs. There was lots of great sides and some awesom desserts too. And the kids had a blast too - some orderly water games turned into a gigantic splash fest.

FishFest

2009-07-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late getting these up, but thanks to everyone who came out for FishFest last Saturday at Verizon Wireless Ampitheater in Irvine. Yes, it was hot, but the shade come on our seats farily quickly and it turned into a great afternoon and evening. Jars of Clay was awesome as always, but Phil Wickham and Hawk Nelson also put on some great sets.

Our row of seats in the terrace section.

Finally smiling in the shade!

This was the view from our seats - no zoom being used here...

Phil Wickham and his band putting on a great performance with the sun beaming down on them.

Sophie standing up and clapping along to Jars of Clay.

Yup, that's Jars of Clay down there on the stage - the video screens on the sides helped.

Dan and Steve working the crowd.

August Activities and Help Needed!

2009-07-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

The blog has been updated on the left with our newest upcoming activities. There are two activities I need some immediate responses to so we can adequately plan them and pull them off!

1) The teens have been asking for a beach trip. We have an open weekend August 22-23. But this is one activity I'm going to need an adult/parent to take charge and plan and execute. So if you're willing to help plan a beach trip, let me know!

2) We also have an Angels baseball game scheduled on Sunday, August 30th. This is another event that the teens themselves have asked we have. This is open to all family members and to all church members. If you want to go to this baseball game - let me know by August 9th how many tickets you would like. If we have enough people coming, we can qualify for a group rate. We will need the cash for tickets on August 9th as well.

Jars of Clay's "Two Hands"

2009-07-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

We've purchased group tickets for FishFest this year, which is happening Saturday, July 25th at Verizon Wireless Ampitheater in Irvine. If you'd like to attend, tickets are $10 per person. Reserve your ticket now with Jeff – we only have a limited amount! We'll meet at the church building at 12:30 and go get lunch and then it's on to the concert! To celebrate and to drum up some interest, here is Jars of Clay's latest video, "Two Hands," which itself is an amazing testament to make a difference in this world.

Slip and Slide

2009-07-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

End of May Events

2009-05-21T21:59:00.001-07:00

There will be NO event over Memorial Day weekend as I will be out of town. So enjoy your time with your family.

There are TWO events left for the month of May.

The first event is Music Beyond Reason and will take place on Friday, May 29th from 7-10 PM @ the Packinghouse Amphitheater. Music Beyond Reason is an awesome Christian concert to benefit Love146. And it is FREE!! Donations are highly encouraged and accepted. Four bands will play and art will be on sale throughout their performances. Love146 is a non-profit organization that works toward the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation through prevention and aftercare. To read more about their programs please visit http://www.love146.org/. And remember as Jon Foreman sings, "Love is a revolution. We don't have to slow back down."

One of the people putting on this benefit concert is a former high school English/speech student of mine from Redlands East Valley High School. Even more importantly, she is a dedicated and passionate follower of Christ. I would like to encourage you to read her note about this event from her Facebook page which you can access here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=546138316&v=app_2347471856&viewas=807265248

Drop off is at The Packinghouse at 7:00 and pick up is at 10:00. Bring a friend - this should be one awesome event.

And the SECOND event for the month of May? Instead of our traditional Sunday fundraiser brunch at the end of the month, we'll all be participating in the farewell potluck for Bruce and Beth Smith on Sunday, May 31st.

Experience AIDS Follow Up

2009-05-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came to Rancho Cucamonga to experience the World Vision AIDS Experience exhibit - what an experience it was. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since we were there. For those of you unable to go, World Vision has an online experience that I would strongly encourage you to check out. You can access it here: http://media.worldvision.org/getinvolved/aids_experience/index.html

Experience AIDS World Vision Videos

2009-05-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of videos from World Vision that helps explain and describe the Experience AIDS exhibit we are going to check out this Sunday.

AIDS Fact Sheet

2009-05-12T17:25:00.000-07:00

A Global Pandemic
• About 33 million people globally are living with HIV or AIDS (nearly the population of Canada).
• Last year, more than 2.5 million people were newly infected with HIV.
• More than 28 million have already died of AIDS.
• The pandemic is the greatest medical, social and economic challenge the world as a whole now faces.
• AIDS is primarily a disease of the poor; 95 percent of all people living with HIV in the world live in developing countries. While improved medical treatment and drug therapies are extending the lives of Americans and others from wealthy countries who live with HIV, worldwide, only 28 percent of the 7.1 million people who need anti-retroviral therapy for AIDS receive it. Sadly, only 17 percent of the 780,000 children in the world who need treatment receive it, much lower than the global average.

AIDS and Children
• Children are the top priority in World Vision’s HIV and AIDS response.
• Those most affected by HIV/AIDS are the children:
• A generation -- more than 15 million -- has been orphaned (lost one or both parents) to AIDS. That’s the current number, not a cumulative total.
• By 2010, the number of children orphaned by AIDS will be more than 20 million, according to United Nations estimates. Africa alone will have nearly 16 million children who have been orphaned. When you add that to the 37 million orphans from other causes (including malaria, tuberculosis, malnutrition, and war), that’s 1 out of every 8 African children who will have lost one or both parents. In the five countries (Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe) where the crisis is expected to be most acute, 1 in 5 children will be an orphan in 2010.
• In the United States and other developed countries, there are more than 400 adults for every orphan; in nine African countries, there soon will be fewer than 6 adults for every orphan. And some of those adults will be too ill to make a meaningful contribution to their care.
• Children are suffering the loss of parents, teachers, community members and peers as a result of the pandemic. The tragic loss of key adults who once provided stability and protection has resulted in a rapid increase of children who are malnourished, forced to drop out of school and exploited for cheap labor.

AIDS in Africa
• Sub-Saharan Africa, home to just 12% of the world’s population, accounts for two out of every three people living with HIV, and three in four AIDS-related deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
• More than 90 % of the world’s HIV-infected children live in sub-Saharan Africa.
• More than 2/3 of the world’s HIV-infected population live in sub-Saharan Africa.
• The number of children orphaned by AIDS in Africa – already more than 11 million – is growing five times faster than the total number of children on the continent.
• Women and girls are particularly susceptible to the virus. Bound by cultural traditions that afford them a lower social standing than men, they often cannot control the sexual behavior of their husbands. Also, poverty drives many women to seek income as sex workers.
• By 2020, Africa will have lost almost 12 percent of its labor force – or 58 million people – to AIDS.

World Vision and AIDS
• Today, World Vision has AIDS programs in more than 60 nations, many of those in sub-Saharan Africa. In size, scope and duration of its response, WV is a leader among
humanitarian organizations battling the pandemic.
• 895,000 children received values-based HIV-prevention training last year.
• Nearly 850,000 orphaned and vulnerable children and 69,000 chronically ill adults
received care and assistance in 22 African countries.
• 12,000 church leaders from 9,300 congregations were mobilized to respond to the
AIDS crisis.
• World Vision has made AIDS prevention, care and advocacy a top priority. WV started its AIDS work in 1990, helping orphans in Rakai, Uganda. Other early programs included serving Romanian children infected with the AIDS virus and providing support for Thai women and girls trying to escape prostitution.
• In December 2000, World Vision launched the Hope Initiative, a global effort focused on high prevalence and high-risk countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and the Middle East and Eastern Europe. World Vision’s holistic approach combines responses to HIV/AIDS with existing work in child health, microenterprise development, agriculture and education.
• HIV/AIDS awareness is also a significant part of WV’s Area Development Programs, which provide long-term aid to communities in pursuit of self-sufficiency, and promote sustainable transformation by tackling the root causes of poverty.
• World Vision advocates for funding to help address the needs of children affected by AIDS, including lobbying for 10 percent of the US government’s AIDS funding to be allocated for children’s needs. Such advocacy by World Vision and other Christian leaders and groups is credited with Mr. Bush’s 2003 decision to enact the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and maintaining these vital components when the program was reauthorized in July 2008.

World Vision Experience AIDS

2009-05-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

This Sunday after church I want to take as many people as can go to the World Vision Experience AIDS exhibit which will be in Rancho Cucamonga. This week I will be posting information about this experience to check out. Today I'm printing the press release for the event.

Virtual Africa Exhibit Brings the Horrors of AIDS Home
The “World Vision Experience: AIDS” interactive exhibit opens to the public

for a journey into an AIDS-Affected community in Africa,

as seen through the eyes of four children

Alta Loma, CA —The nationally touring, interactive “World Vision Experience: AIDS” exhibit will be at Hillside Community Church to raise awareness about the effects of the AIDS pandemic on children in developing countries. Hillside Community Church this innovative exhibit in order to engage the community on the issue of how AIDS is devastating parts of Africa. The free exhibit will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day starting Friday, May 15, 2009, through Friday, May 22, 2009, except Sunday, May 17, 2009, the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

“World Vision is providing local residents of Rancho Cucamonga and the Inland Empire with an opportunity to see, hear and experience in a personal way the lives of children whose worlds have been devastated by AIDS,” says Dr. Dave Burns, Senior Pastor.

Visitors to the 2,500 square foot exhibit will walk though a replica of an African village while listening on headsets to a story of a child whose life has been affected by AIDS. The stories profiled in the exhibit are those of four real children touched by the work of World Vision, and are inspired by true events.

“Our congregation is excited to host the exhibit and invite the local community to come join us as we do our part to make a difference in the lives of those most affected by this disease – our children,” says Dr. Burns.

The exhibit visited 75 cities during 2007/2008, and is slated to visit 40 more in 2009. About 4,000 to 5,000 visitors are expected to tour the exhibit in each city during a typical eight-day stay.

“World Vision, unfortunately, cannot take thousands of Americans to Africa to witness the tragedy of the AIDS pandemic personally," says Richard E. Stearns, president and CEO of World Vision, U.S. "So we've created this exhibit to enable people to 'step into Africa' and learn more about effects of the greatest humanitarian disaster of our time and how they can help. No one can do everything, but each of us can to something to help turn the tide against AIDS."

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

Hope all of the mothers out there felt honored today. During our teen class we made handprints for our moms (yup, you read that correctly) and we attached this poem to our handprints.

The Last Handprint

Remember how you used to get discouraged
Because I was so small?
And now your frustration rises
When I forget to call.

It used to be left fingerprints
On furniture and walls,
Now it is dirty clothes left out and
Evening teacher calls.

The days of changing diapers
Have long since passed.
A diploma, briefcase, and wedding band
I soon will clasp.

I’m no longer growing big each day,
And I’m already quite tall;
But I still need your loving arms,
To catch me if I fall.

I may not seem to listen
To all of your wise words,
But one day you’ll realize
How much from you I’ve learned.

One last handprint
To hang upon the fridge,
To remember how much I love you
As I cross this teenage bridge…

And the Angels are Singing....

2009-05-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a blessed night! Brett and Brooke McGee were baptized tonight at the church building. Tommy Walling's granddaughter, Carissa, was also baptized. Praise God!

Care Baskets

2009-04-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all the teens who came today to help create care baskets and help personally delivery them. Thank you to the families who brought food and goods to put into the care baskets. And a special thanks to Roberta Burgess for helping drive the teens so that we could personally deliver the care baskets. Just want those members and family of members experiencing recent medical issues to know that we love and care about them and are praying for their recovery and healing.

City of Children

2009-04-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

I was really impressed with our speaker this morning - Jeff Fincher, the new director of the City of Children. City of Children is a Christian orphanage located in Ensenada, Mexico. Our church has a long history supporting the City of Children. It was great to hear about the great work that is going on down there. We have been wanting to plan a visit to the City of Children for quite some time and with the Fincher's visit, it's time to set the wheels in motion. We are going to make a visit to the City of Children in the future. Since it is necessary to get a passport for travel across the border as of June 1st, the elders are trying to encourage all teens to get a passport. If you purchase a passport card, we will reimburse you for the cost through the teen fund. In other words, we will pay for you to get a passport! You can find the link to get a passport card HERE: http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

You can check out the City of Children's website here: http://www.cityofchildren.com/COCsite/home.html

And you can check out the Fincher's blog (hooray for blogs!) here: http://jeffandnatasha.com/

A Day Without Shoes

2009-04-14T17:07:00.001-07:00

TOMS SHOES is an amazing company with a simple idea: For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good.

This Thursday TOMS SHOES is encouraging you to raise awareness by going barefoot on the way to the water cooler, walking to the mailbox, in an afternoon meeting or on your lunch break; go barefoot for the entire day or long enough to raise awareness. For more information on this great business visit: http://www.tomsshoes.com/

Why shoes?
Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or just getting around, these children are at risk.
Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren't possible barefoot.
Wearing shoes prevents feet from getting cuts and sores on unsafe roads and from contaminated soil. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected. The leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites which penetrate the skin through open sores. Wearing shoes can prevent this and the risk of amputation.
Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.
There is one simple solution...SHOES.
Four of the planet's six billion people live in conditions inconceivable to many. Lets take a step towards a better tomorrow.

Fact #1: In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to food, clean water and to seek medical help.
Fact #2: Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
Fact #3: Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
Fact #4: In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
Fact #5: Podoconiosis is 100% preventable by wearing

More Prayer Requests

2009-04-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

We've got some family needs to lay before our heavenly Father this week.....

- Please continue to remember Kyle Whiting in your prayers. He's out of ICU but is still in the hospital at Loma Linda. He's having trouble keeping food down, is fighting nausea, and has a blockage somewhere in his bowels. There's a possiblity that he might have another surgery because of these problems. Pray for healing...

- Please pray for Flint Myers and the Myers family. Flint will have surgery tomorrow at Redlands Community Hospital for colon cancer. Pray for a successful surgery and quick healing. Pray for strength for his family and for Davina...

- Please pray for Cora Stowe who suffered a stroke last week and is also in Loma Linda University Medical Center. Cora is one of those people who beautifully lives the gospel - let's pray she recovers and heals and can continue to be an amazing example for all of us.

Prayers for Kyle

2009-03-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Kyle Whiting was in a very bad dirt bike accident yesterday (Wednesday, March 25th). He's currently in ICU in Loma Linda and needs our prayers. He was on life support last night but is showing progress today and is currently breathing on his own. Kyle has some fairly severe injuries and will need surgery tomorrow with possibly more to follow. Pray for his healthy recovery, for the doctors who are attending to him, for his mom and dad, his sister Kimberly, and his grandmother Ranel.

APU Night of Champions

2009-03-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

We took some of the youth group to Azusa Pacific University's Night of Champtions. Thanks to Brittany Kay for helping to chaperone and drive!

The giant inflatable slide was a hit with all the kids (but especially Jack and Sophie).

This was another crazy inflatable game - the person first to the top was the winner and then everybody else tried to make the other people fall down....I don't know - it was a good excuse to bounce and try and knock people over. Oh, and for the record, Sam Kay was the first to the top.

Did we mention that there were 6 In-N-Out trucks helping to provide dinner to everyone?

Day of Fire performed and the lead singer, Josh Brown, also gave a moving testimony.....

Men Without Shirts - quite entertaining, especially for the ladies. The pictures definitely don't provide enough explanation here, but they are hilarious!

Doing a scene from Titanic.....can you see it?

2008 American Gold medal winner Bryan Clay being interviewed and providing his testimony. Bryan is currently the holder of the title World's Greatest Athlete by winning the gold medal in the decathalon. Thanks to everyone who came out - this event is always inspirational and entertaining.

Revealed Lesson #1 This Sunday!

2009-03-12T21:42:00.001-07:00

This Sunday after church we will head over to the Kay house for lunch followed by our first lesson in a Bible study called Revealed. These lessons are similar to the Bible lessons we have on our retreats. This is a 4-part lesson and we will have one lesson every month. And here's an extra bonus - teens who attend all 4 lessons will be rewarded. So check your calendar, clear your schedule and get ready for Revealed!

Birthday Thanks

2009-03-10T21:25:00.000-07:00

Well, today was my 34th birthday (as much as I tried to avoid it) and I was pleasantly surprised today at school. Balloons were delivered to the main office and I scratched my head as to who would have delivered something to my school. Michelle, Sophie and Jack had already dropped off balloons at lunch - so this wasn't from them. But when I received my special delivery I realized they came from my youth group! What an awesome surprise! I thank every one of you. This is my first birthday since my father died and I wasn't really looking forward to it to be honest, but you guys made my day much brighter and much more memorable. I am blessed to be your youth minister! Here are some pictures from my day - thanks again and God bless!

Samantha's Sting

2009-03-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

Sam is a part of the Junior Explorers that worked a sting to test underage sales of tobacco in the area! Here is the article on the Redlands Daily Facts. What a great example for our youth, Samantha! We're proud of you!

Police note compliance during tobacco sales decoy
Staff Writer
Posted: 03/02/2009 11:05:15 PM PST

REDLANDS - Redlands Police used underage decoys to conduct a compliance check Friday of local businesses licensed to sell tobacco.
Four teams of officers and Police Explorers conducted checks at 69 businesses throughout the city beginning Friday afternoon.

The Explorers, each under 18, were paired with police officers. The minors would enter the business and ask to buy cigarettes. If they were asked for identification, the Explorers would say they did not have it or left it in the car. If asked their age, the Explorers were required to reply truthfully to the merchants.

None of the businesses sold cigarettes to the minors. A similar compliance check last summer resulted in nine citations for tobacco sales to minors. Officer Natasha Crawford, who organized the decoy operation, credited the goal of obtaining compliance through education for the improved compliance.

Businesses that refused to sell tobacco to the minors were commended and also given educational material.

During the operation, Crawford was approached by a man trying to sell bootleg videos outside the Ranch Market, 800 E. Lugonia Ave.

Approximately 200 bootleg videos were confiscated. A report will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for possible charges.

Fireproof Dinner

2009-02-21T22:35:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to everyone who came out to support our dinner and movie night! Thanks to all the adults who came and ate and a huge shout out to our teens who did a great job serving drinks, salad, bread, spaghetti, and ice cream. Seriously, you guys did an awesome job - I was so impressed with how well you worked together and helped out. I think a great night was had by all!

31 Verses - Retreat Follow Up

2009-02-11T17:35:00.001-08:00

Now that the retreat is over, I want to remind all the teens who attended to check out the pocketbook that was in your retreat bag - 31 Verses: Here & Now. This book is filled with 31 short daily devotionals that correspond to the theme that we studied at the retreat. These one page devotionals are great ways to spend some quick but quality time in God's word. The book is small enough to fit in your backpack, purse, or pocket. Check it out - I know your spiritual life will be blessed by this small book.

Acappella

2009-02-10T10:10:00.000-08:00

Winter Retreat 2009 - Here & Now

2009-02-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

We returned today from the annual Winter retreat in Big Bear. As you can tell from the pictures we experienced quite a bit of snow. We had 15 teens attend the retreat this year! So we rented a larger cabin than last year. Our cabin this year backed up to Big Bear Lake and we had an awesome view from both the front and the back of our cabin. The picture above is out the front door. You can see my car covered in snow by the fence and Roberta's car up above by the street.

Brett, Peter and Caleb checking out the ice in the front yard.

Our cabin was called the 'Hunter's Lakefront Lodge' and you can see why - almost all of the interior decor was some form of dead animal.

Robera and Laura getting breakfast ready on Saturday morning. As these wonderful women were cooking snow was falling outside.

The view from the second story looking down onto the lake and the dock. If you look closely, you can see Brett, Peter, and Joey walking out onto the dock.

It didn't take long for the teens to make their way outside to check out the snow - for we 'flatlanders' this was an awesome sight - the snow was deep and still fluffy and light - it didn't take long for a snowball fight to occur.

Jon wins the award for best snowball. I wouldn't want to block this with any part of my body.

Look at the view across the lake - amazing!

Samantha and Lizzy all bundled up.

The dock extending into the lake - Jon working on that snowball...

Brett, Joey, and Caleb begin the proces of constructing the fort.

Who snowed us out? Brett McGee - our man of manual labor. Thanks Brett!

This is the front of our cabin.

At Big Bear Snow Play ready to slide.

Uh oh - the snow is coming down pretty heavy now - let's head back to the cabin.

Trenton, Brandon, and Eric working the pool table.

Group devotional time - working on our Bible study of Joshua

and what it means to live in the Here & Now.

The whole group together in front of the cabin before we head out.

Thanks to everyone who came and everyone who supported our trip. God bless!

This Weekend!

2009-02-04T11:48:00.000-08:00

The retreat is finally almost here! And with 16 teens going we had to move up to a bigger cabin - and one that is on Big Bear Lake! I'm looking forward to an awesome weekend studying Joshua and what is means to live in the Here & Now.

We will LEAVE the church building no later than 4:00 p.m. this Friday. Please arrive at the building before this time so that we can pack up our cars. There will be people at the building at 3:30 ready to load cars. We should return to the church building on Sunday between 12:00-1:00.

Teens should pack the following items: a Bible, warm clothes for Saturday and Sunday, casual clothes for lounging around the cabin, pajamas, bathroom supplies, a sleeping bag, pillow, towel. We’re planning on going sledding on Saturday afternoon so bring a warm hat, gloves, sunglasses, scarf or anything else that can aid in keeping you warm! There is a forecast of snow for this weekend - so there is a chance we might be stuck in the cabin on Saturday - you've been warned!

There will be beds and sheets at at the cabin, but not everyone will have a bed so bringing a sleeping bag and pillow is essential. Also, all iPods, cell phones, and any video gameplayers should be left at home - they are detrimental to the weekend and will be kept by me for the duration of the weekend. If you want to get a hold of your teen, use my cell phone.

Great Comic Strip

2009-01-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

Double click to see up close...talk about a generation gap!

Roller Skating

2009-01-18T17:13:00.000-08:00

Davina, Jennifer, Lizzie, Samantha, Joey and Mercedes

representing the Redlands Church of Christ Youth Group well!

Melissa and her kids were there with another party and Chris and Keith came to hang out!

C of C was in the house! Sophie was a bit of a scene stealer...the teens were so great teaching her how to stay up

on her feet...

Practically all falling was caused by Sophie and Sophie alone...

2009 Winter Retreat

2009-01-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

The first post of 2009 concerns our upcoming Winter retreat. You'll be getting all of the paperwork tomorrow at church but I also wanted to post some info here on the blog.

The 2009 Winter Retreat will be held Friday, February 6th through Sunday, February 8th. We already have a cabin reserved up in Big Bear.

INFORMATION: We’ll focus on God’s word with 4 related thematic lessons, participate in team building activities, and have adventures in the snow. We’ll meet at the building on Friday afternoon at 3:30 and we’ll return to the building at 1:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

WHAT TO BRING: yourself, your Bible, warm clothes for Saturday and Sunday, casual clothes for lounging around the cabin, pajamas, bathroom supplies, a sleeping bag, pillow, towel. We’ll be going sledding on Saturday afternoon so bring a warm hat, gloves, sunglasses, scarf or anything else that can aid in keeping you warm! Most of all bring a great attitude and an open heart for learning more about God.

COST: $75 per person (this cost helps cover five meals, snacks, drinks, Saturday afternoon sledding, the cabin rental, study materials, and a t-shirt). Scholarships are available! Do not let the cost stop you from attending this event! I believe this is THE most important event of the entire year!

OTHER DETAILS: Our study and theme for this retreat will be HERE AND NOW: Everything about the world a teenager lives in is aimed at preparing them for the future. They are constantly bombarded by messages saying that life is “up ahead,” just out of reach, somewhere in the future. But that is not our call as Christ-followers. God is at work today and is calling you to live a life on mission with Him…right here… right now. This isn’t rehearsal. This is it.

To reserve your spot, completely fill out the registration form & medical release form and return it to Jeff Partain. The full cost of registration is due no later than February 1st.

QUESTIONS? Contact Jeff Partain at (951) 769-1773 or at fourpartains@yahoo.com

New Year's Eve!

2008-12-31T23:39:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! A huge thanks to the Kays for setting up their Wii with the large projector and for all the great games and snacks. We had a great time hanging out at the building and making memories together. Sophie and Jack will be talking about playing bowling for quite a while. Here's hoping that 2009 is better than 2008 (at least for me and my family - you might have had an awesome year - in which I still hope it's better!). We have great things to look forward to in 2009, the first is the retreat up in Big Bear on February 6th - February 8th. Plan on being there and God bless!

'Tis the Season #2

2008-12-28T21:21:00.001-08:00

After our fundraiser luncheon we went ice skating today over in Riverside. The kids did a great job staying up! Thanks for Brittany who helped drive and also looked like a pro out on the ice.

'Tis the Season

2008-12-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out for the annual Christmas party and mall scavenger hunt. We had a great time and appreciate the Kays for opening their home to us and for making an incredible dinner in a festive environment. Thanks to all of our drivers who helped get the kids from Redlands to Riverside and back - the parking alone was an adventure. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Party This Saturday!

2008-12-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, you've recieved your invitation in the mail (thanks to Debbie, Jen and Sam for mailing those out). This Saturday is our annual Christmas party - school will be officially out so it's a great opportunity to get together, hang out, have some fun, and praise God. We'll be meeting at the Kay's house at 2:00. From there we'll caravan over to the Tyler Mall in Riverside for our scavenger hunt. If you were there last year you know how fun this can be - and prizes will be awarded. After the scavenger hunt, it's back tot he Kay's house for dinner, a $5 gift card exchange, and a devotional. Pick up time is at 8:00 p.m. I'm excited and encouraged to spend some time before Christmas together! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call me or the Kays. Please RSVP to the Kays so we can make sure to have enough food and rides to the mall.

Also, don't forget to pick up a 5$ gift card for our gift exchange!

Grace & peace.....

The Christmas Spirit & Don't Be a Scrooge!

2008-12-13T14:49:00.000-08:00

Today's entry in preparation for our Sunday night film, What Would Jesus Buy?, comes from the always challenging and uplifting Greg Boyd. On Thursday, he posted this wonderfully written reflection about getting into the Christmas spirit in 2008. Greg's sermons are some of the best I've heard and he's one of my few regular podcasts that I download weekly - he's affected my own spiritual life positively. You can reach his blog and website here.

My ritual for “getting into the Christmas spirit” each year is to watch Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (my favorite since childhood), Charlie Brown’s Christmas and the original Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Usually these hokey childhood shows work like a charm. This year, no so much.

Anyone else out there struggling to “get into the spirit”?

Part of the problem is undoubtedly the economy. It has tanked to mind-boggling proportions and, according to most economists, the end is not yet in sight. If we have not lost our job or house, most of us know folks who have. Things are tight even for those of us who are most fortunate and the future uncertain. This easily dampens the “Christmas spirit” a bit.

But this leads to a more fundamental issue with Christmas, one I’ve increasingly struggled with the last ten years or so. Ask yourself: Why would a catastrophic economy dampen the “Christmas spirit”? The obvious answer is that the “Christmas spirit” is largely driven by the economy! Typical American consumerism goes on steroids during the Holiday season! Even in this very lean year a Wal-Mart clerk was tragically stampeded to death by a crowd of frenzied shoppers racing for the best deal. (All in the name of celebrating the birth of the Christ child!)

Meanwhile, as we horde more and more, a great percentage of the world suffers for lack of basic necessities. I saw a chart recently that showed that, for a fraction of what Americans spend on Christmas each year, we could supply clean water to the many millions of people around the globe who need it (thus saving the millions who die each year — most of them children — from drinking unclean water).

Given the Bible’s warnings against hording resources while others are in need (the definition of 'greed'), this annual social pattern has to disturb us deeply.

When you add to this the facts that December 25th was adopted as Christ’s birthday from a pagan Roman mystery religion (and before that, ancient Greek fertility cults) and that most of the symbolism of the season is pagan in origin (the Christmas tree comes from Nordick religion, for example), you have a pretty good case against getting into “the Christmas spirit” — one that’s so strong, even Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol might not be able to overcome it.

Nevertheless — call me incurably pagan if you want – I am going to keep on trying. Hopefully, sometime between now and December 25th the “magic” of the season will hit.

Why don’t I just give up on this consumeristic-pagan holiday altogether, you ask?

Because its not Christ-like to be a Scrooge!

Have you ever wondered why Jesus took a couple days out of his short ministry to attend a wedding feast and then waste a miracle changing water into wine for a bunch of people who had already had a lot, when there were undoubtedly crippled children all around Palestine who could have used that miracle? Have you ever wondered why Jesus often took time out to go to parties (with prostitutes and tax collectors no less!)? Have you ever wondered why Jesus rebuked the disciple who complained that a woman was wasting expensive ointment by pouring it onto Jesus’ feet, when, as a matter of fact, the complaining disciple was right in claiming it could have been sold and the procedes given to the poor (its estimated it was worth up to a years salary)?

I used to struggle with these sorts of things, but I don’t any longer.

Everything Jesus did — including his celebrating — manifest the Kingdom. What Jesus’ superfluous miracle, frequent partying and acceptance of expensive worship reveals is that life under the reign of God isn’t just about ministry and work: it includes celebrating. Yes we’re to live self-sacrificial, radically generous lives. But life as God intended it includes celebrating weddings, drinking wine, going to parties and engaging in extravagant worship. These aren’t “breaks” from Kingdom living: they’re important aspects of Kingdom living!

So, I plan on celebrating this pagan, consumeristic, holdiay, and I’m going to keep trying to “get into the spirit.” I refuse to be a scrooge! This doesn’t mean I’m going to indulge in the consumerism-on-steroids frenzy. And it doesn’t mean I’m going to reflect more deeply on “the meaning of Christ’s birth” (folks, if you aren’t living this out every day, you’re not likely to discover the meaning in the middle of this pagan frenzy!) But it does mean I’m going to spend some extra money to give a few gifts to loved ones and spend a little more time with them. And I’m not going to feel guilty about it. For this is an important dimension of how God intended life to be lived.

In a world as messed up as ours, we need to find occasions to celebrate. Our culture has decided December 25th is such an occasion, and I encourage you to take advantage of it.

Don’t be a scrooge.

An Advent Litany for those in Consumer Captivity

2008-12-12T10:49:00.000-08:00

Behold! a shopping mall on a hill, peddling baubles of bondage and trinkets that entangle.

Fallen, Fallen is Babylon the Great!

May we, like camel-clothed prophets, lead people out of captivity.

Come out of her my people!

The American Dream is a poor substitute for the Kingdom of God.

Come out of her my people!

Consumption and Credit are cruel masters.

Enter the wilderness in prayer and fasting!

Emerge into a world that no longer sees us as its own.

For you are a peculiar people. A nation of priests.

Behold, a mighty citadel built upon a hill of bones!

Bring every mountain low, raise up every valley.

A citadel that imprisons the poor yet fetters the affluent.

Her sins are piled up to heaven. God remembers her crimes.

Her war machine offers salvation to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Some may trust in chariots, but we will trust in the Lord.

The Kingdom of God is in our midst.

Your salvation is near those who fear you!

We long for a world where righteousness dwells.

Where your justice and peace kiss.

A nation of Jubilee, a where your Spirit is poured out on all flesh!

Not a land of Debt where our desires smothers your Spirit.

Our consumption crushes those cast upon the altar of capitalism.

Consume us, O God.

Forgive us for our waywardness, O God!

We confess our complicity. Restore us, O God!

Make your dwelling among us, Emmanuel.

And guide our steps along the path of peace. AMEN.

Taken from Mark Van Steenwyk, the general editor of Jesus Manifesto. He is a Mennonite pastor (Missio Dei in Minneapolis), writer, speaker, and grassroots educator. He lives in South Minneapolis with his wife (Amy), son (Jonas) and some of their friends.

This litany relates to the theme of our upcoming film for this Sunday, What Would Jesus Buy?

Sunday's Movie Night - What Would Jesus Buy?

2008-12-11T10:15:00.001-08:00

This coming Sunday evening we have another family movie night. You all know how much I enjoy movies and how important I believe it is to engage our Christian discipleship with culture. The film for this Sunday evening is "What Would Jesus Buy?" I have a description of the film on the left hand side of this blog under our activities section. And while many moments of this film are outright satire, it seems more timely and approriate than ever.

Take the recent death of 34-year-old temporary Wal-Mart employee, Jdimytai Damouron on 'Black Friday' (the biggest shopping day of the year in America, the day after Thanksgiving). How ironic that we set aside a day to be thankful, only to have the day after it be a day of consumption and spending. Greed (or avarice) does not just belong to the wealthy bankers on Wall Street, but is a sin all of us at some point fight against and it can come anywhere at anytime. Here's an excerpt from the New York Daily News of this terrible event:

Roughly 2,000 people gathered outside the Wal-Mart's doors in the predawn darkness.

Chanting "push the doors in," the crowd pressed against the glass as the clock ticked down to the 5 a.m. opening.

Sensing catastrophe, nervous employees formed a human chain inside the entrance to slow down the mass of shoppers.

"They took the doors off the hinges," said Wal-Mart worker Jimmy Overby, 43. "He was trampled and killed in front of me. "

Even officers who arrived to perform CPR on the trampled worker were stepped on by wild-eyed shoppers streaming inside, a cop at the scene said.

"When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling, 'I've been in line since Friday morning!'" Cribbs said. "They kept shopping."

"I look at these people's faces and I keep thinking one of them could have stepped on him," said one employee. "How could you take a man's life to save $20 on a TV?"

Were the bargains worth it to the people who finally got into the store? Is this what Christmas has become? Have consumerism and greed have become prevalent forms of idolatry in America? As Christians what can or should we do? Are we merely consumers in this society? Or can we call others to a better way, a simpler way, a life of more than materialism, more than consumption? Let's kick start that discussion this Sunday - keep checking this blog for more material to prep your hearts and minds for the movie.

Film starts at 6:00 – and this event is open to the entire church.

Advent.....? Advent!

2008-12-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

It's December - can you believe it? The older I get the quicker time seems to move. With December comes Advent. What is Advent you ask? Good question. Growing up in the Church of Christ I heard quite a bit about Christmas, but I don't think I actually heard about Advent until I was in college. Advent is a Christian season that lasts for about four weeks. It begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve.

The Christian season of Christmas actually begins on Christmas Eve and lasts for twelve days, ending on January 6. The time before Christmas is Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas. Christians prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus by remembering the longing of the Jews for a Messiah. In Advent we’re reminded of how much we also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior’s second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. Indeed, the word Advent comes from the Latin word that means “coming” or “visit.” In the season with this name, we keep in mind both “advents” of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come. The idea of slowing down and reflecting is so difficult to do in December, when the quickness of life (and preparing for the secular aspects of Christmas) can overwhelm.

But the season of Advent can be a beautiful time to reflect and prepare our hearts (which is something we should be doing every day). For more on Advent check out the website of Mark Roberts: http://markdroberts.com/?p=636 and to help remind ourselves of Advent, Charlie Lowell, keyboardist for Jars of Clay, is keeping an Advent blog and each day is posting a poem. Check out his blog here: http://adventpoetry.blogspot.com/

Pepperdine Thanksgiving YouthFest 2008

2008-11-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all the kids who came to the Pepperdine YouthFest this past weekend. The message of being ambassadors for Christ was a powerful one. Good memories! To check out one important lesson that we all learned, please view the video below - it makes quite an impression.

Operation Christmas Child

2008-11-19T23:41:00.000-08:00

This is the second year the Redlands Church of Christ has participated in Operation Christmas Child through the Samaritan's Purse organization and it was a huge success! We collected over 50 shoe boxes filled with goodies and necessities to send to children in need around the world. Here are some photos of the Wednesday night life group loading up the boxes. Check out Samaritanspurse.org to donate much needed money or to drop off more boxes!

MyStuffBags.org

2008-11-15T21:30:00.000-08:00

We had a youth group activity at the church building this evening. We made blankets to send to the MyStuff Foundation. Check them out at MyStuffBags.org. This organization puts together care bags for children taken from their homes. The kids did a great job and brought a great variety of fleece blankets. At some point the kids tied together pieces of material to make jump ropes...then it got fun! Thanks to everyone who came out!

Saturday's Service Project

2008-11-12T12:02:00.000-08:00

It’s getting cooler again and it’s time to put some service back into our youth group. We did this project a year ago and it was greatly appreciated. We'll be making fleece blankets for displaced and foster care children. We’ll make them and send them to our friends at My Stuff Bags in Westlake Village. Bring your choice of fleece (1 ¼ or 1 ½ yards per blanket) and $3 for pizza. All are welcome…6-7:30pm at the church building. Also, if you have any shoeboxes for our Operation Christmas through Samaritan's Purse, bring them and we can also wrap them as we make blankets.

Gone this weekend

2008-11-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

We'll be out of town this weekend visiting relatives in Sedona, Arizona. Pray that we have a safe trip there and back. No activities this weekend - enjoy Veterans Day on Tuesday. Unfortunately, I didn't bring our camera last Sunday to Fiesta Village, so I don't have pictures to post - but there would have been some great ones! Thanks to everyone who came out. Our next activity will be on Saturday, November 15th. It's a service project coming at a very important time with our economy suffering. Come on out from 6:00 - 8:00. More info will be forthcoming.

Verse of the Day

2008-11-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

- 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Verse of the Day

2008-10-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority."
- Acts 5:29

Quote of the Day

2008-10-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Lots of activities added to the side of the blog for the November calendar! Check them out and put them on your calendar. Now on to the quote of the day.....

"We still need prophets to summon us back to the spiritual roots of wholeness and peace. We still need broadcasters of God’s word and magnifiers of God’s truth, so that we will understand and turn and be healed."
-Kenneth L. Waters, Sr.

Expelled - Tomorrow night at 6:00!

2008-10-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday night at the building is family film night. We will be watching the documentary Expelled starring Ben Stein. Here is the synopsis from Christianbook.com: "Ben Stein may not look like a typical school rebel---but when he learned that educators and scientists were being ridiculed, denied tenure, and even fired for the "crime" of discussing evidence of "design" in nature, he'd had enough! Join him as he travels the world, questioning academia's doctrine of random evolution and championing intellectual freedom!"

Check out the official website at: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

Here is Christianity Today's review: http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/2008/expelled.html

And here is Christianity Today's interview with Stein: http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/benstein.html

The Trinity, Toothpaste, & the Jesus Christ Show

2008-10-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

One radio show I truly enjoy and through which I am regularly challenged is "The Jesus Christ Show" on KFI AM 640. Usually we get to hear a few calls as we drive to worship every Sunday morning. The show is broadcast live from 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. If you can get past the premise that the host speaks as if he is Jesus Christ himself - and granted this took me quite awhile to get past - you will find one of the most knowledgeable apologetic minds I've encountered. You can download the weekly podcast through the KFI website. It is an awesome radio show and one which always encourages and edifies me.

A couple of weeks ago a young boy, probably around 9 or 10 years old, called in and asked the host ('Jesus') if he could help explain the trinity to him because he was having a hard time understanding how God could be 3 separate entities. The host gave probably the best response I've heard, especially when trying to explain it to a kid. He pointed out that the word "trinity" is not actually used in the scriptures. He then asked the boy if he had ever seen or had used Aquafresh toothpaste, and of course, the boy had. He pointed out how Aquafresh has three colors swirled into one toothpaste - the white part cleans the teeth and fights tooth decay, the red part specifically fights plaque and tartar, and the blue part helps freshen breath. When you squeeze the toothpaste out, all three are present in the one toothpaste - you can't take out one element. The host stated that the Trinity is similar - you can't actually separate them as they are various elements of the same God each working in different ways, but ultimately a part of the same thing. I thought his metaphor was apt, understandable, and in its own way, profound.

The Internet and this week's blog spotlight!

2008-10-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

With the blog kicking back into high gear, one thing I would like to do is to spotlight one of the links you'll see on the left of this page under "Websites to Check out & Christian Blogs".

Before this week's highlight, I'd like to briefly address the internet in general terms. I've always viewed the internet as I would a huge metropolis, like Los Angeles (where I have lived), New York, or London. The benefit of living in a huge city is the vast amount of resources available that are not available in suburbs, small towns, or rural areas. For instance in Los Angeles, there are museums, sports teams, universities and colleges, vast libraries, parks and recreational activities, as well as a wealth of diversity amongst the people. I would consider all of these things to be positive elements of a large city. Unfortunately, the flip side of that coin is also evident and prevalent. Huge cities also produce and house some of the worst elements of human nature and society, more so than in small towns or rural areas - extreme poverty, corruption, and exploitation among others. This is the metaphor I use to describe how I view the "World Wide Web." Like a big city the internet is filled with numerous resources that can educate, edify, and enlighten, but there are also incredibly seedy, sinful and disgusting elements to the internet, akin to some dark and dangerous alley in a big city. It's up to us as Christians to stay in those parts of the internet that help encourage and uplift our spirits, and not fall easily into the areas of the web where sin easily entangles.

As a Christian though, there are numerous websites that can truly enhance, uplift, and encourage one in a spiritual walk. The internet has been a blessing to me in the sense that I can commune with fellow Christians in prayer, in discussion, and in fellowship. Although we might not be able to meet daily to gain encouragement, we can find areas online where we can receive a similar encouragement.

With that being said, I'm going to try to each week highlight a Christian website or blog that I think will spiritually uplift and benefit you and I'll post the direct link here for you to check it out.

This weeks spotlight is the blog of Mike Cope, the preacher at the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. Mike also co-edits the Christian publication Wineskins. Although I've heard Mike Cope speak many times, particularly at the Pepperdine Lectureships, I do not know him personally - but, in what is one of the many interesting things about the world wide web, I do feel like I know him from reading and following his blog. Mike is a thoughtful Christian, who can be funny, random, thought provoking, and reflective. He can be predicting a baseball series in one post and expounding a verse into practical applications in the next. I was particularly impressed and touched by his recent post on Mark 5:1-20, which is one of my favorite passages in the gospels - the healing of the demon possessed man. It's a passage I've preached on and come back to time and time again, particularly when challenged with the idea of evangelism. Mike has a brilliant and challenging entry about this passage which can be directly accessed here: http://preachermike.com/2008/10/20/the-ex-demoniacs-testimony

His main website is linked under the left side of this webpage under the title "Websites to Check Out & Christian Blogs." The title of the link is "Mike Cope."

Verse of the Day

2008-10-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
- Lamentations 3:21-25

Quote of the Day

2008-10-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

"Living as we do in a world that suffers so much, two opposing possibilities can easily tempt us: either to turn our backs and live oblivious to the pain or to allow the pain to overwhelm us and despair to take up residence in our hearts. The truly faithful option is to face the pain and live joyfully in the midst of it. Those who suffer most remind us of how tragic and arrogant it would be for us to lose hope on behalf of people who have not lost theirs. They are teachers of joy."
-Joyce Hollyday
Then Your Light Shall Rise

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-18T22:48:00.000-07:00

Pizza, some creative pumpkins and the Nightmare Before Christmas movie made for a fun night at Church. Good job guys! They turned out awesome!

We're Back!

2008-10-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

After some admitted time off, I'm begging your forgiveness and launching the blog again. The template has changed, some links have changed, some dates have been updated and we're back online with some updated information. I'm hoping that if I update it, you will come!

Harvest Crusade 2008

2008-08-17T23:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Harvest Crusade 2008 last Saturday evening. We had a great crowd which made the experience that much more enjoyable. Leeland, Kutless, Lincoln Brewster and P.O.D. were great. And of course, the message from Greg Laurie was inspirational and challenging. We were thankful to hear Laurie speak, especially so soon after the tragic death of his son. But his message was heartfelt and reminded us that it is in our weaknesses that God is often strongest. By all estimates the crowd was around 46,000 and check out the pictures of the field grow as people came forward to commit their lives to Christ. By the end of the call, the entire outfield was filled! Thanks to all the drivers for helping us out!

Check out Leeland's blog and pictures about the event here: http://leelandband.blogspot.com/2008/08/angels-in-outfield.html

The Trade / Leeland

2008-07-25T23:41:00.000-07:00

We had a blast tonight in Riverside! We had dinner at Islands - great burgers! Then we went to the Grove Community Church for a concert by Leeland. A local Christian band The Trade opened up, and they were excellent as well - a nice surprise and a definite band to check out and keep up with. Leeland were amazing - it felt more like a worship service / sermon than a concert. We also were able to meet the band after the show and they were genuinely nice and thankful to be there.

EXIT...Somebody Loves You L. A.

2008-07-01T14:55:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday evening we went to the annual Somebody Loves You L.A. crusade at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Saturday night is directed towards teens and young adults and we went for the full experience. We arrived early to check out the booths and exhibits in the convention center lobby. We few professional skaters, including Lance Mountain and Steve Caballeros) were doing a live painting (you can check it out above). The event itself was awesome with attendance in the thousands. The musical concert was first and featured Phil Wickham, Rebirth (featuring Annointed S, a seriously insane beat-boxer), and P.O.D. P.O.D. pretty much tore the roof off of the place. After the music, pastor Raul Ries gave a gospel message encouraging young people to give their lives to Christ, or to continue living their lives for Christ. It was a great evening and we'll have to look ahead to next year. You can get more information at: http://www.somebodylovesyoula.com/

Prayer Request

2008-06-24T00:04:00.000-07:00

Phillip Martinez is serving in the US Army and could really use our encouragement right now. His address is:

PVT Martinez, Phillip

Building 1100 Dixie Rd

B Co. Z-60 INF 3rd Platoon

Fort Jackson, SC 29207

Crystal and Phillip are expecting a baby this summer and welcome our prayers for their future plans and family.

2008-06-24T00:02:00.001-07:00

Check out these websites for ways to help those less fortunate….

www.compassion.com
Compassion…Releasing Children From Poverty In Jesus’ Name

www.soles4soles.org
Soles 4 Souls – Changing the World, One Pair of Shoes at a Time!

www.lionbrand.com/charityConnection.html
Knitting for Charity

www.soldiersangels.org/angel_operations.php
Helping American Soldiers overseas

http://www.mystuffbags.org/
Provides comfort and a message of hope to abused and neglected children entering crisis and foster care.

Pool Party!

2008-06-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

The school year is over. Yesterday was officially the first day of summer. And did we mention that we're having record breaking heat in the I.E.? So it was definitely time for a pool party. On a day this hot, there wasn't much else to do but stay in the pool. I think we only got out when it was time to eat. Thanks to the Burgess family for letting us cool off in their pool and raid their house. A good time was had by all.

Parking Lot Sale - This Saturday!

2008-06-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

The church parking lot sale is approaching and we desperately and definitely need help!

We'll meet at the building this Friday evening starting at 4:30 (we'll have pizza around 6:00) to sort, organize, and price all of our items. If you can come for any and all of this time, we can put you to work. Please bring any plastic bags you have stored around to help bag items on Saturday.

Saturday, we'll need people from 6:00am - noon. Again if you can come for any and all of this time, it would be greatly appreciated.

Please let me know when you and any other families members can come and help us.

If you need to e-mail me or call, feel free.

Thanks,
Jeff Partain

Lee Strobel

2008-05-22T13:27:00.001-07:00

I'm very excited about our activity this weekend! Initially we had planned to leave super-extra early on Sunday morning to hear Lee Strobel speak, but we found out that he's also going to be speaking Saturday evening, so we've moved our activity to then. If you or your teen would like to attend, we'll meet at the building Saturday at 3:00 p.m. We will stop for dinner on the way down to hear Lee Speak at 6:00. And we should be back at the building around 9:30 for pick up. Again, this event is free (besides the cost of dinner - we'll stop somewhere fun)! Read more about Lee Strobel below and let me know if you teen will attend - he is definitely worth the time and trip! Lee's books are some that I consider very essential and important to my life as a Christian. I've linked his titles below to Berean so feel free check them out. He's one of the best experts in apologetics in the Kingdom. Check out his amazing biography and come hear him speak with us!

Lee Strobel has a story to tell and a message that everyone needs to hear - he is the award winning author of Case for the Real Jesus, Case for Christ, and Case for Faith. He has been interviewed on numerous national television programs, including ABC, Fox, PBS, and CNN, and was described by the Washington Post as “one of the evangelical community’s most popular apologists.

Lee Strobel will be speaking at Horizon North County Church at all four of our regular service times on Memorial Day Weekend. Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel, the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty books and has been interviewed on numerous national television programs, including ABC, Fox, PBS, and CNN. His free e-newsletter, “Investigating Faith,” is available at LeeStrobel.com.

Described by the Washington Post as “one of the evangelical community’s most popular apologists,” Lee Strobel shared the Christian Book of the Year award in 2005 for a curriculum he co-authored about the movie The Passion of the Christ. He also has won Gold Medallions for his books The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator, and Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary. His latest book, The Case for the Real Jesus, was published in 2007.

Lee was educated at the University of Missouri (Bachelor of Journalism degree, 1974) and Yale Law School (Master of Studies in Law degree, 1979). He was a professional journalist for 14 years at The Chicago Tribune and other newspapers, winning Illinois’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from United Press International.

After a nearly two-year investigation of the evidence for Jesus, Lee received Christ as his forgiver and leader in 1981. He joined the staff of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL, in 1987, and later became a teaching pastor there. He joined Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, CA, as a teaching pastor in 2000. He left Saddleback’s staff in mid-2002 to focus on writing. He is also a contributing editor and columnist for Outreach magazine.

Lee’s other books include God’s Outrageous Claims, The Case for Christmas, The Case for Easter, What Jesus Would Say, Exploring the Da Vinci Code (co-authored with Garry Poole) and Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage, which he wrote with his wife, Leslie. For two seasons, Lee Strobel was executive producer and host of the weekly national network television program Faith Under Fire.

Lee also is co-author of the Becoming a Contagious Christian course, which has trained more than a million Christians in evangelism, and his articles have been published in a variety of magazines, including Discipleship Journal, Marriage Partnership, The Christian Research Journal, Guideposts, and Decision. He has appeared on such national radio programs as The Bible Answer Man and Focus on the Family. In addition, he has taught First Amendment law at Roosevelt University.

In recognition of his extensive research for his books, Southern Evangelical Seminary honored Lee with the conferring of a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2007. Lee and Leslie have been married for 35 years and live in Southern California. Their daughter, Alison, is a published novelist (Worlds Collide and Violette Between) and their son, Kyle, holds two master’s degrees (philosophy of religion and New Testament) and is currently pursuing a doctorate in theology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. His first book, Metamorpha: Jesus as a Way of Life, was published in 2007.

66ers

2008-05-20T08:07:00.001-07:00

This Sunday was Faith Day at our local baseball stadium. That would be the 66ers in San Bernardino (an AA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers). So we brought a great group from church. Our one request when we reserved our tickets was that we would be in the shade. Good call - the temperature was bordering on triple digits, but we were directly behind home place against the box seats.....in the shade. It was definitely hot, but it could have been worse. Sophie and Jack enjoyed watching the game and climbing up and down the stairs and seeing how much junk food they could get from Daddy! Thanks to everyone who came out and enjoyed the game and concert that followed. This was a little teaser for our hot summer to come!

Faith Day at the Ballpark

2008-05-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

Family Friendly KSGN invites you to join us at Faith Night at the Ballpark Sunday, May 18. Gates open at 12:30pm. Kids Funzone will be FREE until game time at 2:05pm. The Dodgers Minor League Baseball Affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers will play the Lake Elsinore Storm. After the game, you'll enjoy a concert featuring Telecast. Also performing will be 2-time Grammy Nominee Sarah Kelly. Regular prices are: $9 Executive Box, $8 Field Box, $7 Upper Box, $6 Bullpen Box. Groups of 25 or more can get in the Bullpen Box for $4.50 per person. The event will be at Arrowhead Credit Union Park, Home of the Inland Empire 66ers Baseball Club, 280 South E Street in San Bernardino, just north of the I-10 off the 215 Fwy.

If you want tickets to this family friendly event call me or e-mail me!

Respect your elders

2008-05-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

2 Kings 2:23-25

Respect Your Elders or Bears Will Eat You

Look it up!

Prayers for Myanmar

2008-05-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

The nation of Myanmar is reeling from what appears to have been the world’s deadliest storm of the 21st century.Details are still sketchy, but on Tuesday the toll from Cyclone Nargis was reported to be at least 22,000 dead and 41,000 missing. The United Nations estimates that up to a million people could be homeless after a 12-foot storm surge swept away entire towns and villages in the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region.Many of the survivors live in Myanmar's poorest provinces, where most families live on less than $1 a day. Hundreds of thousands of simple bamboo homes and vast rice-growing areas were wiped out by the 120-mph winds, torrential rains, and massive surge of seawater. After initially declining offers for international help, the military leaders of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) have finally said they will open the country to relief workers.Samaritan’s Purse has a team of water specialists who were in Myanmar when the storm hit. In the days following such a massive disaster, contaminated water can spread cholera and other diseases.Our emergency teams across Southeast Asia are mobilizing to respond immediately. Initial reports indicate that the survivors are desperate for food, water, and emergency shelter. Heavy flooding and rain persist.

In support of our emergency relief efforts worldwide, please pray:
· that God will provide Samaritan's Purse with the wisdom and resources we need to meet critical needs arising from wars, famines, and natural disasters.
· for the people who have lost homes, possessions, livelihoods, and loved ones, as they struggle to recover and rebuild their lives.
· for relief organizations, churches, and other groups that are working to meet the overwhelming needs.
· that God will use our relief efforts to reach hurting people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

To Donate to Samaritan's Purse, visit: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

VBS 2008

2008-05-06T23:10:00.001-07:00

Mark your calendars - Vacation Bible School will happen August 3 through August 7.

We'll need as many volunteers as possible so put these dates in your calendars now.

It's going to be an awesome and wet and God-filled adventure!

National Day of Prayer

2008-05-01T10:17:00.001-07:00

Where You Found God Today

2008-04-30T09:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.other6.net/

The above interactive website is encouraging, fascinating, relevant and uplifting. As the site says, "Some find God at church on Sundays, but where does God bubble up in our lives the other 6 days of the week? Sometimes we recognize God's presence quite clearly and sometimes we need help from others: Where have you found God today? and Where do you need to find God today?" Click on the various bubbles to see where others are finding God. And feel free to submit your own submissions - what a wonderful blessing to see where God is at work in the lives of others and where we find Him in our own lives.

National Day of Prayer

2008-04-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

This Thursday, May 1st is the National Day of Prayer (it's also Ascension Day on the Christian calendar....cool, huh?) so let's break our regular schedules to honor God and take special time to pray. We'll watch the latest Nooma video on prayer and bring our hearts before God. This event is open to everyone. We'll be at the church building from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

2008-04-15T22:15:00.000-07:00

It's time to raise some money for the Redlands Church of Christ Youth Group and what better way than cleaning out our homes and garages and donating items for a huge Church Parking Lot Sale! Books, clothes, linens, toys, knick knacks, dishes, furniture...you name it, we'll take it! Remember, one man's junk is another man's treasure. Blow off that junk and let another man treasure it! We have the sale on the schedule for the first weekend in June so that gives you a little time to get organized! We'll need the items no later than June 1st so we can tag them and price them in time for the sale. There are some great events coming up we would love to bring the teens at Redlands Church of Christ to and hope to raise some funds with your generous donations. Anything that doesn't sell will be donated locally. You can drop off items in the church breezeway marked Youth Group, or box and mail it to 1000 Roosevelt Rd, Redlands, CA 92374 or contact us to pick it up. God bless and Happy Springtime!

The Rise of King David

2008-04-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday to Lifehouse Theater to see The Rise of King David. I thought it was a great Biblical musical (perhaps a bit too long). But I would definitely recommend it and appreciated the dramatic retelling of David who the scriptures tell us was a man after God's own heart.

APU Night of Champions

2008-03-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening our youth group went to Azusa Pacific University for their annual Night of Champions. This was the first time we had gone since I've been youth minister and it was definitely a worthwhile experience for everyone. Their outdoor entertainment was great. Upon entering through a gauntlet of APU students (who literally cheered and gave high-fives as you went by) we received our t-shirts. Then we instantly hit the In-N-Out trucks where received our food. There was a car show, many Christian themed booths (including C28 - yea!), an obstacle course, the Game Squad (a 40-foot gaming trailer), a skateboarding exhibition, and an outdoor performance by The S.O.G. Crew (a Christian hip-hop group).

Inside the speakers were awesome. Phil Wickham started the night off with a few songs. There was a Christian dance group as well as a men's group called Men Without Shirts (it's impossible to explain here, so ask someone who went or YouTube it - they were hilarious). The main speaker was former NFL and college football player Dennis Weathersby. One of the highlights of the night for me was a powerful skit that a drama group performed. I had seen this skit online, but watching it in person gave me goosebumps. I'm attaching an online version of this skit - although it's not the exact one we watched at APU, I want you to know that this video and the skit, without question, is one of the most powerful video clips and skits I've ever seen. When you watch it, you need to know that it is real. The battle is real. The forces of evil are real.

Ephesians 6:12-17 says: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Good Friday

2008-03-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

I'm always struck by the ironic title of "Good Friday." That Friday, though good in the general scope of history (especially when Sunday rolls around), wasn't a good day for Jesus. He was brutally tortured, mocked, abandoned and killed. I hope I see all of you at our devo tonight at the building from 7-9. In the meantime, here is a video appropriate for today. Peace.

Anthony and Jeff Sledding

2008-02-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

Big Bear!

2008-02-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

Stocking up for the Youth Retreat!

2008-01-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who signed up to donate food for the youth retreat. We still have a few items on the list if anyone wants to pick something up or if you didn't already sign up to bring something. Please bring your items on Sunday, February 3rd or Wednesday, February 6th from 7-8:30pm to the Church building.

Please let Jeff know if you would like to donate any of the below items:

24 sandwich rolls

sliced cheese

bags of chips

12 taco shells

salsa

bottled water

styrafoam cups

Cheez-its

Milk

2 liters Pepsi, Sprite, 7-up

bags of small mixed candy

Thanks again for all the support and food! The retreat is going to be inspirational and FUN!

Retreat!

2008-01-23T10:16:00.000-08:00

WHEN: February 8 – 10
WHERE: At a private rented cabin in Big Bear

INFORMATION: We’ll focus on God’s word with 4 related lessons, introduce our theme for 2008, participate in team building activities, and have sledding adventures in the snow. We’ll meet at the building on Friday afternoon at 4:00 and we’ll return to the building at 1:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

WHAT TO BRING: yourself, your Bible, warm clothes for Saturday and Sunday, casual clothes for lounging around the cabin, pajamas, bathroom supplies, a sleeping bag, pillow, towel. We’ll be going sledding on Saturday afternoon so bring a warm hat, gloves, sunglasses, scarf or anything else that can aid in keeping you warm! Most of all bring a great attitude and an open heart for learning more about God.

COST: $75 per person (this cost helps cover five meals, snacks, drinks, Saturday afternoon sledding, the cabin rental, study materials, and a t-shirt). Scholarships are available! Do not let the cost stop you from attending this event!

OTHER DETAILS: Our study and theme for this retreat will be continuing the concept we started in our Sunday morning Bible class: BECOMING: Finding My Identity in Christ. Using key moments from the life of the Apostle Paul, this study will challenge you to embrace the journey to become more like Christ.

PARENTS: To secure a spot for your teen you need to do a few basic things:

1) Let me know that your teen is committed to go either by e-mailing me, calling me, or letting me know at church. This is not just a, "Jack really is going to try and make it." If you tell me that your son/daughter is coming - then he/she will be committed to coming.

2) Fully complete a medical release form and give it back to me. It needs to be signed by both the parents and teen.

3) Pay the full registration fee (or whatever your family can afford). You can give the check to me, Jim Parks, or Deiga Bennett. Please do not just put your check in the collection plate. When you give one of the three of us your check, please signify that it is for the retreat (you can mark this on the memo line of your check) so that it goes into the youth fund. The check can be made out to Redlands Church of Christ.

I am very excited for this weekend. Much planning and prayer has gone into this retreat. I believe that it will be a great spiritual experience for our teens - I pray that they will learn more about becoming like Christ, bond together as a group, and create fun memories centered around our church community. Your prayers are much appreciated.

QUESTIONS? Contact Jeff Partain.

MLK Jr.

2008-01-18T10:54:00.000-08:00

On Monday, our country will pause to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. He is most commonly celebrated as a civil rights leader and rightly so. Lest we forget, he was also an amazing preacher. At a time where Christians are increasingly concerned with the troubles in our world (and rightly so), let's not forget our hope of eternal life. Martin Luther King Jr. expressed the Christian motto that to live is Christ in a sermon at the funeral of the four young girls killed by a racist's bomb in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963:

“I hope you can find some consolation from Christianity’s affirmation that death is not the end. Death is not a period that ends the great sentence of life, but a comma that punctuates it to more lofty significance. Death is not a blind alley that leads the human race into a state of nothingness, but an open door which leads man into life eternal. Let this daring faith, this great invincible surmise, be your sustaining power during these trying days.”

MLK was a great spiritual voice. Recently for the speech class that I teach I re-read some of his sermons and speeches. One of his most overlooked speeches regarded Vietnam was given April 4, 1967 at New York City Riverside Church. You can read the amazing speech here.

Parents: I encourage every family to take the time to talk about this great American spiritual leader and hero of the Civil Rights Movement. There are many outstanding films for all ages.
Every family should watch the magnificent movie Boycott, starring Jeffrey Wright as Dr. King, and should study the history of the Montgomery bus boycott that changed the world. This website has video interviews with the people who were there. This newspaper article describes Dr. King's meeting with the bus line officials. It is important to note that he was not asking for complete desegregation; that seemed too unrealistic a goal. And this website has assembled teaching materials, including the modest reminder to the boycotters once segregation had been ruled unconsitutional that they should "demonstrate calm dignity," "pray for guidance," and refrain from boasting or bragging. Families should also read They Walked To Freedom 1955-1956: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The Rosa Parks Story stars Angela Bassett as the woman who would not give up her seat on the bus. Contrary to the "Rosa was tired" legends of a woman who just decided on the spot not to give up her seat, the story is much more interesting. Ms. Parks was a leader in the still-young Civil Rights movement, and her arrest was anticipated and strategic. The Long Walk Home, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sissy Spacek, makes clear that the boycott was a reminder to black and white women of their rights and opportunities -- and risk of change. Citizen King is a PBS documentary with archival footage of Dr. King and his colleagues. For children, Our Friend, Martin and Martin's Big Words are a good introduction to Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement.

Lastraw & Jesus Freaks

2008-01-18T07:26:00.001-08:00

There is a Christian store that recently went in on State Street in downtown Redlands...it's a Christian lifestyle store that specializes in Christian apparel, Christian housewares, books and anything a cool, young Christian might want to wear or use to show off his faith. It's a store that makes you feel cool to be a Christian. Anyway, I remember the owner because one day we were in there shopping and Sophie suddenly started saying (rather loudly) that she had to go to the bathroom and instead of directing us down the street somewhere, he let us use their unfinished bathroom in the storeroom. VERY kind of him...possibly avoided an accident with that one.

Jeff got on his mailing list and we received an e-mail from them last week saying they might have a community service project they wanted to do and they were having a meeting to talk about it. We didn't go to the meeting but today Jeff stopped by the store to introduce himself and tell him if he had a service project, we would be interested in getting our youth group involved and helping out.

Everything in the store was half off...not a good sign for our favorite new store! Jeff had talked to the owner and he said when they first opened and people down on their luck saw a new Christian store on the block, they started coming in and asking for food, money, etc. He couldn't just turn them away. He started giving them food and I'm assuming spiritual food as well. He then felt called to minister to them and had set up a few dinners and things and always kept food and clothes at the store for those who might drop by in need. He felt called to turn it into a larger project and possibly have a food, clothes, and spiritual ministry there for them as well as the original store front. At first the owner of the building said it would be okay but after a robbery at a nearby jewelry store, the owner of the building told this owner of the store that the other tenents were worried about the clientele being scared off by the homeless and down-and-out of Redlands hanging out.

The owner of Lastraw, the Christian store, now is unsure of his next move. He feels called to minister to these people at their "last straw" and is planning on closing or moving the store to a new location at the end of the month...possibly even scrapping the store completely and opening a soup kitchen or having Sunday services and food in the park for the people he has gotten to know and care for in the past months by serving them from his store front. It's an interesting story and the ending could be promising and hopeful or sad and typical. I am praying that it will be like a story out of "Jesus Freaks" where his calling is realized and he will truly make a difference for those he's ministering too...where things that are even out of his control will just line up with God's help for the greater good of His purpose. Please pray that this little store owner and family man will follow his calling and have the support of many in the coming weeks. We would love to have a great Jesus ending to this story. We need more men like him. He makes me proud to be a Christian and makes me realize I should be out there bringing people to Christ and not just waiting for them to come to me. -Michelle

Operation CARE

2008-01-13T17:41:00.000-08:00

A timely and important service project has been brought to our attention from Debbie Maddox. It's called Operation Care and concerns many of the citizens in Afghanistan. The winter that they are currently experiencing there is a brutal one for the majority of the people who live in poverty. Quite literally, many Afghans are dying due to the weather conditions. In an effort to help the people over there, a service group working with the military stationed over there is trying to get as many warm clothes and blankets to the Afghan children. While some are buying new clothes, many are donating old clothes that are still usable. Debbie is asking for anyone who might have long-sleeve children's clothes, coats, sweaters, boots, gloves, mittens, etc. to bring them to church on Sunday, January 20th and she will box them up and mail them to Afghanistan where they are needed immediately. If you have any of these clothes that you can donate, please do so and bring them to church this Sunday. Please see the pictures below of the soldiers handing out these items to th Afghan people as well as a letter from Kevin Kennedy, one of the soldiers stationed in Afghanistan who has handed out these items. Please consider what you can bring next Sunday, these children are literally freezing to death as I write this.

"This morning I joined about 50 other American service-members on a trip out to a group of refugees living in tents (I think I saw at least 200 people there just from my vantage point) in the middle of a muddy field!From what I was told, some are refugees that have returned from and/or kicked out of Iran. They are basically squatting on some land that is undeveloped in a Kabul suburb. They live in makeshift tents and due tothe construction going on around them; their field has become more of a drainage point so there is a lot of mud.

The weather this past week has been well below freezing every night and we've had snow mixed with rain most of the past week. The site we visited looked rain-soaked and, without a doubt, it is the most impoverished place I have ever personally visited. The people of the camp knew we were coming because some members of our team visited the site earlier this past week to hand out tickets for coal and clothing and blankets. The tickets are important because when 12-13 American vehicles show up at a run-down camp, everyone knows there's goods being given away and many poor come from all around gather to try and get something for themselves as well. The tickets are given ahead of timeso the folks in the camp would be the ones getting the coal and blankets and other goods. Some members of the camp physically restricted others from entering.

I moved off of coal duty today and got into shoes and socks duty. I was the line former for a line of children that led into the back of a truck where we gave out shoes, socks, blankets, hats, and gloves to kids. Lots of stories I could tell...but one 4-5 year old boy was in line and was physically shaking...he had no hat, no gloves, no coat, and no socks; just slip on shoes pants and a couple of layered T-shirts. The ground was still frozen so it had to be below 32 outside. I got a Nike hat from John and put it on the boys head then put my arms and hands around him to try and warm him up a bit. We were giving the blankets out after the kids got their shoes...but this boy was so cold that I grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around him like a poncho and put some gloves on his hands. Then I kept rubbing him and put my warm leg next to him. He snuggled up to my leg and after a minute started talking. Ihave no idea what he was saying but he was smiling so I figure he must have been getting warmer. By the time he got some new shoes and socks he was smiling...and off he went back to his tent city!

Another man broke into the line of kids with his crying two year old daughter. He held her out to hand her to us...I didn't know what to do but to grab the little girl. She was crying and shaking, partly because she was cold and certainly now even scared because some stranger was holding her. We put a hat on her head and wrapped a blanket around her and just tried to comfort her a bit...and she stopped crying. Then we handed her up into the truck to a SMS gt who used to work for me at Minot. She took the two year old and helped her get outfitted with some shoes and socks and, a few minutes later, she left the back of the truck and went back to her father's arms...much calmer than she had been when she left them.

The team handed out coal, blankets, coats, shoes, socks, and even had a station just for women...to handle feminine hygiene products and diapers. I saw several babies with nothing on but a T-shirt...amazing! What a sight to see...what an experience to experience! The two hours we spent there went by quickly and as I got back into our truck I began to feel how cold my own feet had become standing on that frozen ground. As the heated truck began to thaw me out I looked across the ditch(being used for sewage) at the tent camp and just prayed for the people. A couple of the kids we had helped came over to the 6 foot wide ditch and waved at us as we were driving away. They actually had smiles on their faces! Love you all...and am so grateful for you all and for all we've been given! Thanks for the gloves and hats...and other donations...I have now personally seen them go to a VERY GOOD CAUSE!"

Paul, the cell-phone salesman & Moses

2008-01-11T21:15:00.000-08:00

For Friday night's 2007 reflection / 2008 planning night we had a short lesson related to the following video. I've posted the video below - and it really is an amazing clip. When you begin watching the video for the first time, pause it after 35 seconds and ask yourself these questions:

- How do you feel for Paul?
- Is there anything that he is going through that you feel sometimes?
- When have you felt like Paul?
- From what you have seen so far, how do you think Simon is going to respond?

Now watch the rest of the video -

or start it over and watch it uninterrupted from the beginning....

After watching the video ask yourself or discuss these questions:
- What amazed you the most?
- Paul, the cell-phone salesman had a huge hidden talent.

Is there something hiding inside of you?

Read Exodus Chapter 3:
- Why is Moses so reluctant?
- What are his excuses?
- How does God reassure him?

As the New Year begins...
- In what way are you like Moses?
- How do you need to let God change you?
- What does God need to change in you first this year?

Changed by Christ Part 3

2008-01-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

And here is the third and final part of Brian "Head" Welch's testimony of his conversion.

Changed by Christ Part 2

2008-01-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

Here is the second part of Brian "Head" Welch's testimony of his conversion.

Changed by Christ

2008-01-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

When people encounter Christ, they are never the same. The most obvious Biblical example of this is the person we are focusing on in this study: the apostle Paul (who was Saul). Another more recent example though is Brian "Head" Welch, who we discussed in our Sunday morning class. Brian was the lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band Korn. To most people, Brian had everything one could want: worldwide fame and millions of dollars. But Brian was unsatisifed in his life and was deep in drug addiction. In one interview, Welch said that he "wanted to die." What happened next was extraordinary to many - a friend invited Brian to church and Welch gave his life over to Jesus Christ and in the process beat his drug addiction. Brian left Korn, walking away from millions of dollars, but he doesn't regret it at all. Brian is now focused on living for Christ and making music that reflects the Christian message.

Over the next 3 days I will post Brian "Head" Welch's testimony where he discusses his conversion. Here is part one:

Becoming......

2008-01-06T14:36:00.000-08:00

Today in our first Sunday school class of the year, we started a Bible study called "BECOMING" which examines the transformation that Jesus Christ brought about in the life of the apostle Paul. Paul was so changed by his encounter with Christ that by the end of his life, this former Phariseee and persecutor of the Church could make the statement, "For me, to live is Christ." BECOMING is a study that helps us on the journey of discovering our true identity. Ultimately, who we are as individuals is bound in the person of Jesus Christ.

We read the following as an introduction to our study:

Who are you? And don't answer this question by giving your name...

Who are you, really? What makes you...you? What defines your identity? What image do you project? What separates you from the 6.7 billion other people on this planet?

What about you tells the world you're different? That you're valuable? That you have a purpose?

Is it your looks? Your talents? Your intellect? Your passions? Your bank account?

Or, is it something else...something more meaningful? Something more spiritual?

Are you the source of your identity? Or is HE?

Is your identity wrapped up in you? Or in HIM?

With every day that goes by, you make decisions, choices that determine who you are and who you will be. You are growing...physically...mentally...spiritually...

You are BECOMING.

The question is: who you are becoming?

More like HIM? Or more like the world...

Who are you becoming?

Happy New Year!

2008-01-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

I'm about four days late with this entry, but I wanted to wish everyone at the Redlands Church of Christ and every member of our youth group a very happy new year. I'm very excited about 2008 and what God is going to do with our youth group and with our church. I'm making it a resolution of mine to use this blog more. Besides updates, calendar events, and recaps on our events (complete with pictures) I'm hoping to add some spiritual reflections, Biblical thoughts, and Christian discussion questions. I encourage any reader of this blog to post responses and/or suggestions.

We have two big events coming up: our first activity for 2008 is this coming Friday night, January 11th at the building. We will have a night of spiritual planning and fun. We’ll reflect on 2007 and set goals for 2008. I want you to be there – so that you can help us plan for the future, as well as set personal spiritual challenges for yourself. Start time is 6:00 p.m.

The second event is the Winter retreat which is currently scheduled for February 8-10th. I cannot stress the importance of this event - we'll establish our theme for the year as well as dig deep into the Bible. We'll also have some great entertainment and fun. THIS will definitely be an event to clear the calendar for. You can miss an athletic event for this one and you can skip a school activity. We only have a retreat like this once a year - I want you there and am praying that every one of our teens will commit to attend this event. Please let me know if you can come ASAP.

In closing, let me leave you with this verse from 1 John 3:18: "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." I love this verse and wanted to use it in my first blog entry for 2008 because it is a challenge for every Christian and should be our calling as members of a church & youth group. God does not just want us to say we love each other, but he call us to actual genuine deeds and works of kindness. HE's pushing us beyond our comfort zone, to a higher form of love. This will be one of our focal points for this year - to go beyond just hanging out on Sundays and at youth events, and to truly care for each other through selfless giving and putting the needs of others above our own needs.

Christmas Party

2007-12-17T12:34:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone had a great time at our Christmas party yesterday. Thanks to the Kays for opening up their home for our party and a special thanks for Debbie for cooking an incredible lunch! It was an honor to have Steve and Carol Smith as our special guests. The scavenger hunt at Tyler Mall was fun - congratulations to Briana and Kathryn who placed first. Ryan and Joey placed second (technically they tied for first, but Bri and Kathryn turned in their paper first) and Jon and Rikki placed third. We pray that all of our teens and their families will have a safe and happy Christmas. We're excited about 2008 and the wonderful things that God has planned for us.

Operation Christmas Child - Church of Christ Style!

2007-11-12T18:30:00.000-08:00

Operation Christmas Child was definitely a success at our church. It was so impressive and overwhelming to see 60 boxes underneath and surrounding our Christmas tree in the worship hall. Consider that this is the first time our church has participated in this worthy service activity AND consider that we just had four weeks to get as many boxes together as we can! The boxes are going to a drop-off location this week where they will be shipped off to needy children in numerous countries around the world. I know that much time, money and love went into creating these boxes. Thanks to everyone who helped put these boxes together and helped make our first Operation Christmas Child such a rousing success. Continue to pray for Samaritan's Purse and for all the children around the world who will receive these boxes. Pray that during this upcoming Christmas season the greatest gift of all will be shared, the gift of God's love.

Here is a story from the Philippines about just one of the 7.6 million boxes that were delivered last year: Receiving a fully-packed shoe box made one young boy very happy. His mother is a laundry woman and his father is a janitor and is partially paralyzed. He helped pay for his Grade 3 schooling by driving a wooden trolley along a railroad track. He lived in a house 2 meters away from the railroad track and is an active member of a pioneering Presbyterian Church.The gifts were personalized for the recipient of the box. Letters, cut-outs, and posters were with it. His box was amazing! It came from a retired Union Pacific railroad worker and was received by a boy who transports people using a handmade trolley that runs alongside a Philippine national railroad track. Amazing! God connects people by a railroad track!

You can read more inspirational stories at: www.samaritanspurse.org/occstories

2007-10-20T23:02:00.001-07:00

We probably started a tradition tonight! We headed up to Greenspot Farms for a truly frightening haunted hayride, complete with loud screams, chainsaws, deranged killers, and a long walk fending off other types of creatures. Then it was back to the church building where there was some intense pumpkin carving. The results were awesome. While we carved we listened to some Halloween music (The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack), drank hot apple cider and hot chocolate, and had candy and cookies. Great job on those pumpkins - for those of you who weren't there, check out those pics and see what you missed!

Fun Day Out!

2007-10-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would throw this out there in case any of you are looking for a pet OR a fun free outing with the kids. October 20, 2007, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oktoberfest at Ramona Humane Society. Family fun and entertainment for kids of all ages! Great food, music, crafts, clowns, face-painting, dancers, carnival games, frisbee tossing, and dog agility shows performed by the Muttley Crew Gang. AND if you are interested in adopting a pet they have 400 dogs at all times, lots of cute kitties and they even have bunnies, hampsters and birds. Cats and Dogs are only $25 on Saturday the 20th during the Octoberfest. We recently adopted a 3 year old Chihuahua mix there and she is such an amazing dog...potty trained, sweet with the kids and came with all vaccinnations, neutered and on Saturday you can too...for only $25. It's a little bit of a drive but it is a beautiful drive through the hills and it would be fun for kids...they even have large animals like horses, cows, pigs...Ramona Humane Society690 Humane WaySan Jacinto, CA

Happy Birthday Rikki!

2007-10-17T22:17:00.001-07:00

The angels were singing tonight! Rikki Scates was baptized tonight by her grandfather, Charlie at the building. Congratulations Rikki - you've made the best decision of your life!

Meeting Dan in Redlands

2007-10-11T22:34:00.000-07:00

This afternoon my wife and I took Sophie and Jack to meet Dan Haseltine, the lead singer for Jars of Clay, at the Barnes & Noble in Redlands. Dan recently published his first book - a children's book entitled "The One, The Only Magnificent Me." My daughter was so excited to get a book signed especially for her. This picture seriously makes me laugh and I thought everyone would get a kick out of it. Dan was very kind and generous to everyone who came and my daughter has a great, "magnificent" memory. God bless

Operation Christmas Child

2007-09-30T23:34:00.000-07:00

Let’s start collecting items for Operation Christmas Child, an annual project of Samaritan’s Purse, we’ll be creating gift-filled shoe boxes and Gospel storybooks to millions of poor and suffering children in over 90 countries. Last year they were able to give over 7 million of these shoeboxes to children around the world! The shoe boxes must be turned in the week of November 12-17th so please put your shoe box together and bring it to the church as soon as possible. Please place your completed shoe boxes under the tree in the auditiorium. See below for the items to put in the box or donate money to Jeff as we will be putting together boxes also with the teens!

Age groups are 5-9 years and 10-14 years

Please select if it's for a boy or girl

Fill the boxes with the following items:
TOYS

small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS

toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER

Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

A PERSONAL NOTE

In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

Do Not Include:Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans

For more information or to donate directly, please visit their website at samaritanspurse.org

Oak Glen

2007-09-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since we updated this blog. My bad! It's been hectic as the Partains have been preparing for a big move and then this past weekend made the big move! Thanks to everyone who came out and helped, we truly could not have done it without you. We're now in our new place and although we came late to family day this past Sunday in Oak Glen, we really enjoyed hanging out with everyone and seeing the old West gun show (good job Brett and Rodney!) We haven't yet unpacked out digital camera, so here are a few shots we took with a disposable.

Hot roller skating

2007-09-01T22:36:00.001-07:00

Friday night the youth group went back to Cal Skate only to find that the air conditioner was broken inside the rink. With the temperatures in the triple digits, we decided to try and give it a go. At first it wasn't too bad, but as the rink filled up and the skating continued, it became quite hot. So forgive the sweaty figures in these pictures, but we still had a great time!