9/22/08- In Loving Memory

Today was a big day for a family in our student ministry...Josh, Justin, and Lori W. today marks the oneyear anniversary of the death of their wonderful father and husband. Here is a post that Justin put on his MySpace...

"One year ago today, Dad died from a heart attack at age 40. A lot had happened just prior to his death, and a lot has happened since. We had just moved to Pontiac in May, and shortly after, Dad had been thinking that he made a mistake in coming here. His job was being affected by the move, and we were far from our old friends and the all the people someone comes to know over 9 years of living in the same place. On September 22, 2007, Dad got up early and took my brother with him to visit our Uncle; later, they came back home and he planned on taking us all out to eat at Pizza Hut. Unfortunately, Dad's plans were cut short by chest pain, and at around 6:00 p.m. he went outside to get some air; he sat down against our shed and never got up again, dying on the land he'd just bought and expected to spend many more years living on. I called 911 and the ambulance came awhile later—it seemed like way too long—and they took Dad to the hospital, but it was already too late.



I'd like to name some things that I've learned from Dad in the 17 years that I lived with him; Dad was not perfect, as no one is, but he's taught me many lessons that I will try my best to live by as I grow into a man. Dad was not a patient guy, by any means at all, but he knew what had to be done and he always did his best to make sure that they got finished responsibly. If you didn't put all of your effort into it, he'd notice and he'd make you do it right. He griped about the pettiness at work, but he made sure his jobs were done thoroughly, and sometimes he went an extra mile to do his jobs better than they were expected to be done. He had a very funny, off-color sense of humor that we all enjoyed—you never knew what he was going to do, especially in public. Dad didn't care what other people thought of him, and that made for some interesting outings. And, of course, he always did his best to put food on the table and raise up a good family, and to raise us in a Godly household.



I've gotten used to having him away, but it's still really weird, and we all really miss him. Whenever I watch old videotapes with him in them, it makes me realize just how short his life was. I get to see him grow up just like he watched me do; there's video of him from the early 90s, where he and my cousins Ron and Ryan are acting like lunatics because Mom's not home and they have the entire house to themselves—I'm even in that video, at about 3 years old. There's another video of him from 1999 where he's still a cop working in Emden, talking about all the small-town corruption that's affecting his view of law enforcement and that eventually led to his early retirement from a job that was cutting too many corners. And there's yet another video of him that was taken shortly before his death where we are visiting with our cousin Ron and his new family; he was in the video from the early 90s, and now he's a grown man himself, and Dad is the uncle of his baby boys.



There aren't going to be any more videos of Dad, no more pictures and no more memories. The times that could've been went straight with him into the ground; I can only hope that someday I'll have lived my life in a way that he'd have approved of, and that the big decisions I'll one day be looking back on would have made him proud. Until I'm with him again, the most important thing I can do is make the most of my time on Earth, because my life could end just as suddenly and unexpectedly as his did, and when that happens I better have a past worth remembering for my friends and family.



Rest in peace, Dad"

I just want to ask you to take the time to pray for this family. God has really blessed us by bringing them into our church family and they need love and support.
~Lola~

Circle Up!!!

Last night, we did something never before done by the PBC student ministry....

CIRCLE UP!!!


It was very cool! The guys built a bonfire. Peole brought their campers and tents and made a HUGE circle in the church lot. There was fellowship, food, and fun! Not to mention lots of bugs...ick! Here are some pics I stole from the PBC website...



















Thanks to Marty, Andy, Kenny, Kristy, Julie, Kara, and all the other leaders for helping. And a special thaks to the Moore's for use of their AMAZING camper!!!
~Lola~

Made for Community!

This past Wednesday night, Pastor Jeff talked about how we are designed by God to be in community and fellowship with others. Being in a community gives you a sense of belonging...it gives you people to confide in and be loved by. We are not meant to go it alone!

Hopefully, I will be able to add some actual notes from his message but, for now, let me ask you this...

Are you living in community?
~Lola~

M.E.A.L.S.

On Sunday night, Joe taught on the importance of staying in the word and scripture memorization. Here's what he has to say in his blog about it...

"Our night event at church each week for the high school students is called NEXT. I taught last night in the youth pastor's absence...

I basically taught the students (and leaders) my post from three weeks ago or so where I shared all the Scripture that speaks of God's word and food in the same context. I told them that I think God uses that illustration to tell us that as often as we eat for our bodies, our spirits need his word that much also. So many people only read the Bible at church. Yet none of us eats physical food only once or twice a week.

I handed out to everyone two different Bible reading plans and my Bible reading tips (scroll down on the right hand side of my front page of the blog to find the Bible reading tips). I threw a lot at them. I asked seniors to identify themselves and then told them they only have months left with us and that statistically speaking in two years three out of every four of them won't be Christians anymore and that I don't want that to happen. They need to develop a habit of being in God's word every single day.

I exhorted the students to develop a habit of being in God's word at least five days a week - knowing that we all miss days. If they are already doing that, then start memorizing with regularity. I encouraged them to get a buddy to do this with. Two are strong than one in accomplishing this kind of thing.

I threw a lot out to them in a short time. I told them I don't expect them to act on everything I offered. It's too much. But I told them I would like them to purpose to DO SOMETHING (that's something Pastor Jeff tells everyone all the time). Do one thing! You aren't in the word outside of church? Start eating daily. You're in the word daily already? Add memorization!

One of the best ways to do this is instead of sitting down and trying to read five chapters at one time is to read one chapter at each meal. Break it up during the day. You've got five minutes? Read one chapter.

I hope each of the students does something. One student afterward told me that they were glad I pushed this. This student got a buddy that night to start reading through the harder of the two plans I offered. Who's the buddy? One of the adult leaders! This is great. They can both hold each other accountable to keeping up. I also know that they will discuss from time to time what they are reading.

Do you need a buddy to help you do this? If you don't have one, I'll be glad to be one for you."

To read his post on the scripture that compares the bible to food, go to http://blaugmenting.blogspot.com/2008/08/menu-for-week-of-august-25th.html


He did a great job! Thanks a lot Joe!
~Lola~

Points of Prayer

Hey guys! I just wanted to post a few things ya'll could keep in prayer!

1.) There is a little boy on Austin Williams' football team that is really sick with cancer. He's down in Memphis at St. Jude's. Keep him and his family in your prayers.

2.) Pray for safe travels for Jeff and Maxine a hey go to Colorado for a leadership conferece.

3.) Pray for your friends. Commit to this! Your friends need God to rescue them, so pray that thy will open up to the love that God has for them.

4.) Pray for our room situation. They student ministry is growing (Thank you, Jesus!) which is a problem cause the building DOESN'T grow.

If anyone has any other prayer requests, let me know!
~Lola~

Welcome!!!

Hola! This is Lola! I have decided to create a blog for the amazing student ministries that I am privileged enough to be involved in. I will post about past, present, and future events, things we're learning about, topics of interest, and so on and so forth. So, stay tuned!
~Lola~