Camp Aldersgate

J.O.Y.

Hey Middle School Students....reall quck, I want to touch on what we posted about last time.  We dared you to be third.  Have you thougth bout that?  Better yet, have you tried it yet?  If you have...and this might sound lame....but if you did, you found J.O.Y.  That's right...Jesus, Others, Yourelf.  That's real true joy in life is found.  Not in having the newest game out, not by being dressed in the clothes that everyone else is wearing, not even in how many text messages you send in a day....it's putting Jesus and Others before Yourself..  DARE TO BE 3RD.  

Some Say....

In this series of blog post for students, we are going to look at thing that "some say" about Jesus Christ.  We know you hear these things....you ask us about them while at Aldersgate for summer camp or retreats.  So, let's break some of them down.

SOME SAY.....

Jesus had to be a kook, a liar or just a great teacher...but no way was he God.  In fact...even back when Jesus walked in the flesh people had trouble beliving him.  He made claims that he could raise people from the dead, heal people, and even forgive people for their sins.

But, Christians do indeed believe Jesus that is the Son of God.  We believe everything he said.  After all, his claim to raise people from the dead was proven when he walked out of his tomb alive after three days being there in death.  

Jesus walking out of the tomb.... Only God could pull off something like that.  So yes...Jesus was a great Teacher....but he is also the Messiah.  

Middle School Students...do you dare to be caught being third?

We have a challenge for all of our middle school aged campers....but it's also kind of good for the rest of us.

Would you dare the chance to be caught being third?  How about, we challenge you to do your best to be third.  SERIOUSLY.  In fact, it's not something we are making up ourselves.  This is all from the bible.  You see; we are to place God first, others second, and ourselves third.  So, we ask you....do you dare to be third? 

How this works.  Say your at school....(did any of you really just mumble, "I'm at school"...if so, extra credit).....now, let's say one of your teachers ask you to break up into groups to do a project together.  NOW...STOP!!!  Normally, you might just act here without thinking this through.  You would normally just jump to the same ol' friends you always partner up with, right?  Well this time...in this hypothetical situation...think a moment.  Who might God be calling you to partner with?  Who "normally needs" a partner because other won't partner with them.  Now, can you make yourself third here, and partner with them?  We pray that you think about it.

Go ahead....be third today.

Getting the right stuff in.

Do you know how hard it is to be the Christian God wants you to be when you are giving yourself mixed messages?  When you know it's so right to follow Christ, yet you still refuse to give yourself over to him 100%...that's kind of crazy.  If you've been to Aldersgate lately, you've probable heard us say that we most often get asked by teens, "Why is it so much easier to be a Christian at camp?"  And we always answer the same...."Because we get our God thing on morning, noon and night."  We listen to Christian music, talk about what the bible has to say about this and that and the other thing, and we are just loving God all the time.  Now...we might rock the boat and challange the thinking of some for a moment here.  But, there is nothing wrong with listening to music that isn't Christian....AS LONG AS....it doens't have lyrics about things that are wrong.  Now...to help with all this....read on.

We have a great resource for you to know about.  It's a website with a free membership that is very cool.  It's the place we use to know what's going on with Christian music right now.  Check it out.  Their on facebook or on their webiste  Afterall, getting the right stuff going in....makes all the difference with what's coming out. 

Pizza Box Family Board Game!

 We wanted to share an idea for an activity that you can do with your family to help spend more quality time together.  It will require that you first get some of your favorite pizza delivered.  (note, if your favorite pizza normally makes the box greasy, ask them for an empty box...they've never said no to us.) 

Now gather a bunch of random items scattered around the house...every house has them.  Old board games and puzzles with missing pieces are great.  Scissors, glue, tape, wrapping paper, egg cartons, thimble, blocks of woods, old keys, unused silverware...seriously; whatever you can find.  Also, get some markers, pen and paper as well.  Now, gather the family.  Start by asking each person what their favorite board game is and why.  Then, start talking about what the ultimate family board game would look like and how it would be played.  Once you have some ideas, bring out the pizza box and supplies and get to creating.  Turn your pizza box into the board game.  Use all the materials you've gathered to make the pieces and parts of the game.  Incorporate old family videos, the Wii, the family fish, whatever....just make it yours.  Write the rules out on the paper.  Once you have it all together, play it.  You might have to make some tweaks along the way.  And, hopefully, you'll have some opportunities to help your kids (or kid and dad) to work through a disagreement or two.  What a great time to practice with them some important skills they'll need later in life.  Anyway, once the board game is complete and you've enjoyed it once.  Put everything back in the pizza box and store it away until next weeks family game night.  Even if they want to play again...let them want for it later.  WHAT? You haven't tried a weekly family game night....give it a whirl.  Try it for one month, your family might just love it. 

Now for the first instruction last.  Before you begin, find a moment to pray and ask God to bless you with wisdom and patience and to be present in your families time together.  Ask that he use you as a witness of his Love, Grace and Mercy for your children that are after all, his gift to you.