The Recall Vote Is On!

In 1998 (and for some reason again in 2002), California elected Gray Davis as the Governor of California. While in office though, he ended up making many poor decisions for our state, some of which led to an energy crisis and a budget problem. As a result the people in California were outraged. So in 2003 (not even a year into his second term) the people in California voted to recall (or fire) Gray Davis. California rejected him as their governor and held another election to replace him. Interesting side note. this is how action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger came to be Governor of California.

Recalls don't happen all the time, in fact there has only been one other in US history. Where other recalls might deserved to happen, there was one recall didn't deserve to happen. The one who was recalled made no mistake, but his people recalled him all the same. I am talking about how the Israelites recalled God as their king. Though they gave other poor, unfair, false reasons to recall God, ultimately they wanted a human king so that they would, "...be like all the other nations, with a king to lead [them] and go out before [them] and fight [their] battles," (which FYI, God was already doing). All junior high students are welcome to join us tomorrow night as we read 1 Samuel 8-12 and look at how Israel rejected & recalled God as their king, as well as find out who they got to replace God as their king.

What I Meant To Say

Last night Crash continued the story of the Israelites in 1 Samuel 4-7, focusing on the Ark of the Covenant and God. There was a lot to cover and all of you junior high students did an awesome job of focusing & paying attention. Thank you so much!

As I was sitting at my desk this morning, I started to think about last night and about the response that I got from some students that I talked to. I realized that in an effort to keep things shorter, I may have gone faster toward the end and because of this, some of you (or maybe most of you) missed the big point that I was trying to make. For this I am sorry. See even I make mistakes. If you will give me another chance, I'd like to share with you all the big point that I want you to get. So whether you were there last night or you weren't this is what I want you to walk away with:

"God is GOD! Realize the weight of that statement. God is Mighty & Holy; able to kill and to heal. He is able to control nature, to curse and to bless. He is able to conceal & confuse and to give wisdom & understanding. He is all powerful, all knowing and everywhere. He is not a lucky charm. He can't be controlled, overcome or defeated. He is faithful & forgiving. 'Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this Holy God?' The answer is no one. No one is worthy, no one is righteous, no one is holy enough to stand in His presence. It is only through Jesus' death & resurrection that we have any chance to be with God. Yes, He does love us, He wants to be with us, but we need to give Him the proper respect, reverence and even fear that He deserves."

DON'T LOOK INSIDE!!!!

"Don't look inside!" Indiana Jones yells this out to Marion Ravenwood, his fellow prisoner, when the Nazis open the Ark of the Covenant towards the end of Raider's Of The Lost Ark (the first and best Indiana Jones movie). When they open up the Ark, all of those who looked inside immediately die; which was everyone but Jones & Ravenwood. Indiana Jones had a reverence for God Almighty. He knew that the Ark of the Covenant was Holy and must be treated with the same respect, honor and even fear that was due to God.

The Ark of the Covenant was where God had said that He would be present among the Israelites. In a sense, to look into the Ark was to look at the face of the Most Holy & Almighty God. No one could ever stand in His holy presence (apart from Jesus and His holy sacrifice). In fact that is the question that is posed at the end of 1 Samuel 6, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this Holy God?"

When we think about God, we think about a loving, welcoming, friendly God. But have you ever actually thought about God? How powerful He is? How mighty He is? I think we don't have enough reverence, and nor do we fear Him enough. Yes, God created us and loves us. But to think that God is soft is WAY OFF BASE. He has leveled cities, plagued nations, commanded nature and is even a master over death! He has protected people from lions, fires and great armies. Don't skip over this. Read the last couple sentences again and think about what they mean. This is God that we're talking about- GOD! He is so much more powerful than we can ever dream, and we are all at His mercy. Join us this Wednesday night as we read 1 Samuel 4-6, looking at how both the Israelites and the Philistines viewed God Almighty during that time, and how we should view God now.

A Pancake Story

This Sunday the junior high students will be raising money for winter camp, by serving pancakes at our annual Crashcake Breakfast! The students will serve people pancakes, juice and coffee. So in honor of this pancake breakfast, I thought I'd share a pancake story with you.

When I was a kid, let's say 3rd grade, I was over at my aunt's house, spending the night with some cousins. In the morning, my uncle decided to make pancakes for breakfast. When my uncle makes pancakes, he doesn't mess around. The pancakes he makes are, no joke, the size of dinner plates (9-in diameter ones). Now, kids, especially boys, do not typically back down from challenges, especially when they involve eating. So, I'm sitting with my brother & 2 cousins, Chris & Patrick and we began betting each other how many of these massive pancakes we could eat; 3, then 5, then 7. Wanting to take things a step up and show how awesome I was, I blurted out, "I could eat 13!" This was a very bad call. After they all laughed at me, they told my uncle to make more and held me to it.

I finished the first 3 no problem. I started to slow down when I finished the 5th. By the time I had completely eaten the 7th pancake, I was full. But as a kid, a bet is a bet and to give up in the middle of a bet means turning in your "cool card". So I kept eating. By about the 10th pancake, I was really regretting what I had said and hated my big mouth. By the 11th one, I was feeling sick and wanted to throw up, but I held it in, not wanting to fail. I stared down at my 2 remaining pancakes, not wanting to finish them, but not wanting to fail. I looked at the clock and noticed that it had been 2 hours since I had started this stupid bet. I slowly nibbled and picked at one, just wanting this whole thing to be over. Then I got an idea. While no one was looking, I decided to spit it out in the trash. I made sure it was buried, so no one could see. Finally, it all came down to this, one pancake left. The end was in sight. I felt invigorated! I called everyone back into the kitchen, wanting to prove that I had held up my end of the bet (even though I was only doing it for bragging rights and never mind that I didn't even finish number 12). With a look of victory, I ate the remaining pancake on my plate. Huzzah!

It was at this time that I made myself another bet... well it was more of a vow. I vowed that I'd never make any bet that had to do with eating pancakes again. That is my pancake story, and yes it really did happen. I hope to see you all here at Desert Springs Church this Sunday morning, either enjoying pancakes, or serving them.

The Call

"The call of God is difficult to explain but impossible to ignore. It's the nagging, conscious awareness asking you to do something. The asking comes not from words, but from deep within, as though a voice had been planted inside and now is beginning to speak" - Mike Yaconelli

I was in high school when I felt "called by God" to be a youth pastor. It wasn't an auditory voice, "Cameron, I want you to be a junior high pastor." It was a quiet whisper in my heart. Let me explain. When I was a senior in high school, I came to the conclusion that I love God, I love people, and I love kids, so why not be a youth pastor? So I volunteered in my churches 3rd grade Sunday School. I liked it. It felt right. After I graduated I tried out junior high ministry, and loved it (And still do)! It was (and is) something I saw that God blessed me in. There were times when I got to try out other areas of ministry; I worked at a camp with elementary school kids, & I went on a 3 week mission trip overseas. But I always came back to junior high ministry.

Junior High ministry was something that felt the best, something I felt God wanted me to do, something that I loved doing. I honestly don't think I'd be as fulfilled, as happy or as successful doing anything else. And if I ever landed in a spot where I'd have a different job, I'd still be volunteering to do what I do. This is what I mean by "the call of God". It's a nagging, comfortable, safe and all too familiar voice that calls you to service for God, and affirms itself through skills, passions, opportunities, and the feeling of fulfillment. And of course it never contradicts what God has already spoken in His word.

Samuel was called by God to serve Him. I'm not talking about how his mother Hannah, dedicated him to work in the church. I'm saying God actually "called" Samuel, in a physical, auditory voice. God told Samuel that he was going to be a prophet, a judge, that God was going to use him to talk to the people. Though Samuel's call was not like mine, he was still called into service, and at a young age. Join us this Wednesday as we continue our story in 1 Samuel chapter 3, and continue to look at the story of how (and when) God called Samuel into ministry, and how God calls us to serve Him.

My New Year's Resolutions

New year's resolutions, they're those promises you make to yourself. They are your personal goals for the new year. People make them at the beginning of the year, so that they will have the whole year to try to accomplish them. Most people end up forgetting about them or stop trying to accomplish them after only a couple months.

"But this year is different, I'm actually going to do it this time." This is what we always think, every year. But I want to tell you, this year IS different. It feels different. I am excited for 2011, and this year I AM going to accomplish my new years resolutions. To prove it to you, I'm going to list them for you all to read, so you can help remind me. At the end of this year, I'll go back over this post, and tell you all what I was able to accomplish, and what I wasn't... that is, if I don't forget.

1. Lose some weight (I think this is one that will always be on every ones list until the end of time...)
2. Read through all of the Chronicles of Narnia
3. Read a total of 15 books
4. At least every other week, meet someone different at Desert Springs Church whom I've never met
5. Go out of my way to meet new people in my community
6. Find adults at Desert Springs who love God, love students and can help out in Crash.
7. Play local league sports
8. Take a dance class
9. Go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier
10. Go golfing at least twice.

What are your new years resolutions?

My Favorite Book(s) Of The Bible

My favorite book of the Bible is 1st & 2nd Samuel... OK, Ok, that's really two books, but it was compiled as one book, and later split into two. It is a great book, full of true stories about the Israelites, kings, what faith can do, and yes, a man named Samuel, who appointed Israel's first 2 kings. How many of you have ever heard of the story of David & Goliath? That's 1 Samuel 17. What about a king dancing around praising God in his underwear saying, "I will become more undignified than this!"? That's in 2 Samuel 6.

I remember my own youth group going through this book, and I loved it. It paints such a great picture of not only life then, but life now. People get made fun of, others get betrayed, and still others make life-long friendships. Strong emotions such as jealousy, fear, joy and courage come to life. I am so excited to begin going through the books of 1st & 2nd Samuel with all of you.

So, join us this Wednesday night as begin to open it up, and read through all of these stories, drawing out Godly truth that we can still learn today. Tomorrow night we'll look specifically at chapters 1 & 2, at the story of Hannah. We'll see why she felt like a failure and what she did about it. We'll see how we can pray openly and honestly to God, and be encouraged that He'll answer.