Weekend teaching summary 2/26 - 2/27/11

"Church Entrance Do Not Block"

Pastor Dan concluded the "Puzzled" series with a teaching from the story of the prodigal son and the response of the older brother. The key passage was Luke: 15-28-31.

The students were challenged to treat non-believers with grace, even if they are offended by them. It is natural to be jealous of others if it seems they are favored over us or if an unfair situation has occurred. This leads to treating others badly, as illustrated by the older brother in the passage. It is important to be mindful of growing pridefulness or negativity toward others. Rather than allow this wrong attitude to take root, we are to purposefully put on grace and have open arms. When they do this, the students are not "blocking" the church entrance!

Whose heart do we most represent: Jesus or the older brother?

Psalm139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Middle school lock-in tonight

Tonight is the Middle school lock-in! I just got word from Dave that last-minute planners are welcome to attend, even if you didn't sign up. "The more the merrier", I heard.

The cost is $3 at the door, and have your students bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and a flashlight for "underground church". It is also school spirit night, so the kids are encouraged to dress in school colors and see which school wins!

It begins at 8 p.m. tonight, and please pick up your students at 8 a.m. Saturday morning.

In case you don't know, underground church is a game where the kids pretend to be a group of Christians in a country that is hostile to believers. Other kids take on the role of the anti-church police and seek them out.

Other activities planned are worship, teaching, watching a movie, insane games, and pizza!

Snow camp.... looking forward to summer camp!

Snow camp was an amazing success. We're praising God for 5 students brought to salvation in Jesus Christ! After learning about that, it is just a bonus to know that there were no injuries, and we're praising God for that, too.

The teaching at Snow Camp was centered around forgiveness, and many of the kids were moved to pray about forgiving others.

Feel free to look at the pictures from Snow Camp, found to the right of this post, labeled "snow camp pictures 2011"

There is quite a buzz among the students about the fun and significance of Snow camp, so naturally they are looking forward to Middle School Summer Camp - to be held at Laurelville Retreat Center in Mt. Pleasant, PA, from June 26 - July 1, 2011.

Registration for summer camp is fast approaching! More details will be available soon.

* Parent Volunteer Opportunity *
There will be opportunities to raise money to help pay for summer camp, and we are needing a few parents to step up and lead these efforts. Hoagie sales, Joe Corbi's food sales, Candy from Gene & Boots, and Car Washes are all possible fund raisers. It's a fun, short-term way to get involved!

If you are interested in learning more about these fund raising opportunities, please email Ruth at studentinfo@cornerstonelive.net.

Teaching this weekend; Feb 19-20

This weekend the teaching in the Zone was titled, "Playin' the Game". Dave shared from his heart about how harmful it is to God, the kids, and other people when they try to fit in with the world and do whatever it takes to be accepted.

The three main points were:
1) Playing the game tarnishes God's image (Ezekiel 36: 20-21, Romans 2:24, Titus 1:16, 2 Cor 5:20)
2) Playing the game may impress others, but God thinks it stinks (Isaiah 1:13-20)
3) Playing the game leads to fruitlessness (Mark 11:13-14, Luke 13:6-9)

A verse that struck me from this lesson was Isaiah 1:19-20. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land, but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.

Dave gave examples of bad language, dressing provocatively, lying, using pornography, and making poor media choices as areas that Christian students need to be careful not to tarnish God's image and bring fruitlessness into their lives.

I hope this helps you strike up fruitful conversation with your student this week!
God bless you.

Upcoming Parent Seminar

Walt Mueller / CPYU present...

Hope and Healing for Broken Kids seminar

with Marv Penner & Rich Van Pelt

Saturday, April 9th, 2011, Monroeville Assembly of God

REGISTER ONLINE: http://www.cpyu.org/

Parents, you are invited to attend this one-day training seminar for youth workers, educators, parents, pastors, and counselors.

REGISTER TODAY! Register before 3/1/2011 to receive the early bird rate!

Saturday, April 9, 2011 • 8:45am–5pm

Monroeville Assembly of God Church

4561 Old William Penn Highway, Monroeville, PA 15146

(located about 20 minutes outside of Pittsburgh)

Brokenness and pain run deep and wide in today’s youth culture. Our kids are victims of family breakups, violence, incest, date rape, sexual abuse, and other devastating circumstances. Today’s kids are faced with issues of increasing complexity, but ignoring these issues is simply not an option. Working with hurting kids should not be taken lightly.

This CPYU one day-training seminar will help you answer the question “What do I do now?” and give you the confidence to listen and respond wisely to what your kids unload on you. Youth specialists Marv Penner and Rich Van Pelt will help you unpack and respond to the complex realities a majority of kids face today. You’ll be equipped to offer a biblically-rooted path towards wholeness—a path we’re all going to be called to walk with hurting young friends.

Presenters:

Rich Van Pelt is the National Director of Ministry Relationships for Compassion International. Rich has expertise in dealing with struggling adolescents, crisis intervention, and postvention—helping kids and parents navigate some of life’s toughest stuff. He is the author of several books including The Youth Worker’s Guide to Helping Kids in Crisis and A Parent’s Guide to Helping Kids in Crisis.

Marv Penner heads up Youth Specialties, Canada and is director of All About Youth and the National Center for Excellence in Youth Ministry. In addition to his teaching, speaking and writing, Marv specializes in parent/adolescent conflict resolution, sexual abuse recovery, eating disorders and marriage and family issues. He is the author of several books including Help! My Kids Are Hurting and Hope and Healing for Kids Who Cut.

Schedule:

8:00–8:45 Registration

8:45–10:15 Welcome to a World of Hurt

10:30–Noon Responding When the Hurt is Deep

Noon–1:15 Lunch Break (on your own at one of several local quick eateries)

1:15–2:15 Hurts So Good: Understanding and Helping Kids Who Cut

2:30–3:30 How To Save A Life: Understanding and Helping Suicidal Adolescents

3:35–5:00 A Biblical Model for Hope and Healing

Parenting is like gardening

The topic of parenting frequently comes up in circles where there are teens in the family. Typically, parents express frustration and doubt in themselves as they witness their kids making poor choices or responding negatively to teaching. Pastor Dan and I were talking about how we would love it for kids to be like a recipe: Put in all the right ingredients, follow the specific directions, and then they’ll come out wonderfully! It doesn’t work that way, does it? We decided that kids are more like seeds in a garden. They start out undeveloped, but generally respond well to good conditions. We choose good soil, add nutrients (not over-fertilizing!), and give water. If we put the seeds in a sunny spot, God provides the sunshine the they need to grow. But, the seeds must respond to the conditions provided, and it takes time for the seed to become beautiful or useful. Aren’t kids like that? We, as parents, must walk in obedience to God as we provide a nurturing environment, much prayer, Bible teaching (but not overloading), and a continuous relationship with our kids as they grow up. It can be painful for them to grow (and painful to watch them), but as God shines His love & guidance on them and we do our part to nudge them out into His light, God does the work on their hearts. Then, after time, we may see the fruit of our labor, and witness the beauty that God produced in their lives. All we can do is obey the Lord to the best of our understanding and ability! So, the next time you feel like blaming yourself for the poor choices your teen is making, stop and ask God if you should do anything differently (and do what you feel led to do), and then pray that He will shine into their lives mightily. We, as Christian parents, can rest in that! Praise the Lord!

Weekly update for parents

• Monthly flyers are available in the Info Zone. Come up to the Zone to pick one up this weekend! These are updated monthly, and are prepared to remind the students of upcoming events and teaching schedules.

• This weekend (February 5-6) offers a great opportunity for your son or daughter to bring a friend to church. Small group time will be extended at each service to allow the students ample time to connect with each other and their leaders.

• High School Missions Trip application deadline is Feb 6. Feel free to contact Pastor Dan at Dhertzler@cornerstonelive.net to have your questions answered. Packets are available in the Info Zone.

• Middle School is having a lock-in on Feb 25-26, from 8 p.m. – 8 a.m.; cost is $3.00 at the door. As a parent, this is an exciting opportunity to serve. Please consider joining the group as they worship, hear great teaching, play insane games, eat pizza, watch a movie, and much more. Please contact Dave House at dhouse@cornerstonelive.net if you would like to come. (You need to have completed “Safe Place for Kids” training.)

• Please pray for the students and leaders who will be attending Snow Camp on Feb 11-13. Thank you!