Attack of the Cotton Balls

Last night in youth meeting, we played two games - both involving cotton balls. It was quite amusing watching the teens try to pass a cotton ball using only a straw. Enjoy the pictures.

Snow

I woke up this morning at 4:45 planning to go to the gym but when I looked outside, the ground and the streets were covered in snow. Normally that would not keep me in but...
I turned the news on to see if school had been cancelled. It had. The weatherman proceeded to describe some of the conditions outside which included black ice. Again, snow wouldn't normally keep me inside and off the roads but the combination of how early it was and the fact that there could be some black ice on the roads was enough to keep me in.
Instead, I made pancakes, hasbrowns, and bacon for breakfast!

Computer Crash

Here is the timeline of events:

5:00 PM/Friday - I am informed that people are having trouble sending emails and accessing information on the server.
9:00 PM/Friday - Determine that the UPS (Uniterruptable power supply) for the server has been shut off. Why? I do not know but server is now online.
10:00 AM/Saturday - Server is still online but I am receiving an error from the UPS stating that the battery needs to be replaced.
3:00 PM/Saturday - Replace battery in UPS but Server will not come online.
9:00 PM/Saturday - Determine that external hard drive (via USB) is causing the Server to freeze. Upon removing external hard drive, Server boots up properly and comes online. However, this external hard drive contains information necessary to run School Dynamics, a program vital to the smooth flow of our Academy. I also determine that the Server's onboard USB connections are not working. External hard drive is "dead." Fortunately, we do have a back up of the information that is/was on that hard drive.
3:00 PM/Sunday - Install new USB card in Server. Purchase new external drive. On Monday, I will need to reinstall School Dynamics and restore the information from the backup.

My thanks to Mr. Joel Schaeffer for a wealth of trouble shooting information!

Questions About Standards & Potato Fencing

Last night, in our 7 Star Teen meeting, I preached about standards. In a nutshell (a very small nutshell) here is what I preached.

What is a standard? Christian standards are rules, that have been based upon Biblical prinicples, which guide our conduct.

Are standards necessary? While we all would agree with and understand the fact that a person's spirituality is not determined by the outward conformity to a standard or a rule, standards are still a very necessary part of the Christian life.

Why are standards necessary? (Before continuing, take the time to read 1 Peter 1:13-16 and 2 Timothy 3:13-14) I gave the teenagers 3 Biblical reasons why standards are necessary.

1. Because God is holy.
2. Because God commands us to be holy.
3. Because the world is getting worse.

The issue of standards, whether standards that a parent sets for their children or the standards that a church youth group sets, really go back to a person's attitude. (2 Corinthians 7:1, "...perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.") As I travelled for Pensacola Christian College, most of the questions that teenagers would ask me dealt with the rules that PCC had or that the teenagers "heard" that PCC had. My normal response to those questions was, "If your attitude toward authority is right and your heart's desire is to please God than you will not have a problem with the rules."

Last night we played a game called, "Potato Fencing." Enjoy the pictures!

Ping Pong Ball Relay

We have a lot of fun on Wednesday nights during 7 Star Teens! (At least I like to think so.) We normally play some type of game during the course of the evening. Last night we played "Table Tennis Relay." The teens were divided into two teams and then grouped together by two's. Each person was given a straw. Each group, using only the straws had to blow a ping pong ball down the length of two tables and then back without letting it fall off the tables. If the ball fell off, they had to start over again. For some of the teenagers, it was a little harder than it looked!

Praise the Lord!

"O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good..." Psalm 136:1

God is good in spite of the US economy! God is good in spite of politicians! God is good because that is who He is! He cannot be anything but good!

What Does Proverbs 7:7 and Proverbs 4:23 Have In Common?

"And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding," Proverbs 7:7

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. " Proverbs 4:23

In Proverbs 7:7, the original Hebrew word, translated as "understanding," is also used in Proverbs 4:23 but it is not translated the same. What word is used instead?