The Wisdom Of Others

An old mentor once told me when you're in ministry, before you make any big decisions... "seek the wisdom of others." This has been great advice. There are things that I don't understand, perspectives I haven't seen, and ideas that I haven't thought of. See when we seek the wisdom of others we grow, and learn things the easy way, instead of having to learn it the hard way.

I see myself doing that now. I go to Pastor Mark or Pastor Tom when I have a question about the Bible or ministry. I go to my parents when I have a question about the important things in life, and my friends for the less important things. It's all so I can make the best choice.

This week in Crash we are going to have some invited guests, some adults who have lived and grown and gained wisdom through their experience. These adults will be a part of a panel, who will be answering questions and passing on their wisdom to you. They will be sharing from their lives what they have learned about how to love God and how to love people- practically. This is all so that you can grow, and learn and make the best choice for your life. I want to encourage all Jr. High students to join us tomorrow night as we ask questions and seek to the wisdom of others.

A First In Crash History!!

Hello Crash members!

I am here to tell you that starting this year, we will have Crash t-shirts! This is an exciting time because it serves as a benchmark for our youth group, our community. It is so exciting that Crash is growing, larger as a community, growing together, and growing closer to God. When I first got here 2 years ago, Crash had a total of 3 Jr. High students, we now have 15 Jr. High students and more to come in June.

To celebrate this we are creating a t-shirt that we can wear anywhere. We can use it to show people that we love being a part of this community. We can use it to help invite our friends, we can wear it, because it'll look cool. But I need your help. I have two designs that look great, but I have to decide on one. So, in the comment section make your selection.

Design #1

Or.

Design # 2

So, thanks for your help, make your selection, and I'll see you on Sunday! =)

Life's Little Lessons

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... and ...Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments," (Matthew 22:37-40). Love God and love people. This is important, I think we sort of get that. But this is one of those things that is easier said than done. How do you love God? When His way is not popular? Not fun? How do you love people? When they are annoying? Mean? Stirring up drama?

One of the best places that the Bible answers this is in the book of Proverbs. This book is chalk full of wisdom, advice, and little life lessons for both of these topics. So for the next three weeks we are going to be in a series called, Life's Little Lessons, looking in the book of Proverbs at how to properly live out the Great Commandment.

This week we are looking at how exactly we are to love God? What do we do when we don't understand? When we are impatient, or frustrated? All Jr. High students are welcome to join us for Crash as we look at what a relationship with God looks like.

Paid For By The Self-Control Council...

Youth are always told, "Don't have sex! It's bad!". But what's the big deal? It's just sex, right? What does it mean anyway? Last week we learned that we should flee from sexual immorality (sin) and pursue purity. OK, but does that mean we can never experience sex?

It's not that sex is bad. God made sex feel good. He created us to enjoy it, but only in the right context. He created us to have sex inside the context of marriage. Genesis 2:24 says, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Sex is in a sense, the outward expression of the inward reality- that the husband and wife love each other, and are committed only to each other for life, the two are united.

Sometimes it seems like a messed up joke: God creates you to enjoy sex and then tells you, you can't do it. What's up with that? Why is sex before marriage so bad? Join us tomorrow night as we continue looking at the question, "Why Is It So Bad?" and explore the context in which God intended sex to be experienced, and why.

It's A Direction

Many teens, when talking about sex, ask the question, "How far is too far?" In their minds, it seems to be a fair question. Many people tell them, "Just don't have sex." They draw a line in the sand. So naturally, human nature takes over, and they try to get as close to the line as they can, without actually going over. Which going back to the question, might make sense to ask. They think, "well this isn't sex, so it must be alright..." This thinking leads them into trouble.

Purity is not a line you can get close to, or even a line at all. That would make things too easy, "just don't do this, and I'm good." That's not how purity works. Purity is a direction, you are either heading towards it or away from it. That's what Paul means when he says, "Flee from sexual immorality...(1 Corinthians 6:18)" and "Flee the evil desires of youth...(2 Timothy 2:22)". Flee means run... in a specific direction... away from immorality... towards purity.

I want to encourage you all to check out these passages and try to figure out for yourself the point Paul is trying to make. Then join us tomorrow night for Crash as we continue our series called The "S" Word and address the question "How Far Is Too Far?", looking at the idea of purity.