FREE RICE!

Check out this website. Everytime you get a word right 10 grains of rice are donated through the United Nations to end world hunger. www.freerice.com

Nightmare Before Christmas

Last night was our Pumpkin Patch After Party and it was a blast! A dark basement, a chainsaw, Nightmare Before Christmas, and a bunch of people.....scary combination!
I shared some reflections last night about the movie and I thought I post some of them here.
In the movie, Jack Skellington finds himself restless and discontent with his life. He discovers Christmas Town and enters into the story of Christmas Town but really makes a mess of it. He ends up hurting others and hurting himself. Luckily Santa was able to pull off Christmas but the memories and scars are still there. Jack finally finds his purpose and belonging when he connects with his original home in Halloween Town but with a new perspective.
I think this movie paints a beautiful picture of our lives. How many times do we find ourselves living our lives in a story that feels awkward? A story where we are out of place and we hurt ourselves and others? A story where our own brokenness exceeds what we can handle?
In the book of Romans, Paul writes to the church: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Do we let God transform us so we have a new perspective on this world and our place in it? Do we enter into the story of God, a story that is filled with purpose and belonging? Many times we just follow what or who is around us without even thinking and we find ourselves in the wrong story.
This week try to focus on entering God's story by loving God and loving others.

National Youth Workers Convention

So we're down here in San Diego at the National Youth Workers Convention. There's a bunch of us (me, Allison, Jeremy, Paulina, Madison, Mark, Jory, Jen, and Rachel). Friday the convention started and there were two large group gatherings. When I say large group, I mean it. There are over 3,500 adults who work with students here. David Crowder Band led worship both sessions yesterday and today we had a group from Vancouver called Starfield. Besides worship, there are great speakers, comedy, and skits. There are all sorts of late night fun things to do.

So today we went to the beach in the afternoon and had some fun, it was great.

It's great to get away for a weekend and relax. Below is a picture of Jory falling down (common occurrence).

We saw Carrie at the convention and hopefully she will get to hang out with us a little bit tomorrow.

This afternoon we kicked it at Mission Beach. While everyone was getting crazy in the waves, Jen and I read books!

This is the Truth

Here's the video we showed tonight at Ignite:

Miss South Carolina

I can't believe a couple of you haven't seen this yet.....so here it is...

All I have to say is "no comment"