MY PICTURE OF A PROPER YOUTH GROUP

okay, heres the thing. ive been to quite a few different youth groups, but none of them quite fit the bill. im so sick of watching the leaders be more interested in giving us soda and getting us involved in a good game of dodgeball than sitting us down and really digging in deep about spiritual topics. dont they see thats what we need??? dont they understand that we can get what they are offering us anywhere??? some of us come to youth group to be fed. spiritually. and some of us come to youth group because its become a place to gather with your friends and get free pizza. for a long time i justified it by saying "well, at least they are meeting in a church, not on the streets". but really whats the difference?!?!?! its not like theres any teaching that goes with that pizza. its just become a hang out. we can go to teen night at the YMCA for that except...wait! that costs money! so see, the church has really just become a free meeting place. and im sorry if im offending anyone, but i am just absolutely disgusted. i think to some degree, my parents think i just dont wanna go to youth group. at one point that may have been true. but the ONLY reason i wont go now, is because of what it is. or rather, everything it isnt. so, instead of just complaining about the problem, im offering a solution. i have an idea. a baby plan. how im gonna put it in action i have no idea. im still not 100% sure that God is telling me to put my energy into this. and as ive said before, i dont see how i can "mentor" high school kids when I AM ONE!!! but here is what i do know: if this is what God wants me to do, He'll show me how. He'll map out my course, leave footprints for me to follow and be there by my side holding my hand to help me along. and as a good friend pointed out: "let no one despise you because of your youth..." (1 Timothy 4:12)

so i am going to go ahead now and tell you my depiction of what a youth group should (and hopefully someday will) look like. oh, and one other thing: there may be youth groups like this around. if there are any, please, let me know. these arent necessarily MY ideas. Just what i want to see. and as of late, what i want to put in action...

Weekly "Mentoring" Sessions: a strong Christian leader will meet with students on a need-to-basis. or weekly. the leader and the student will meet maybe at, say, Starbucks. just to talk, to catch up on their weeks. the idea is for the leader and the student to be friends. to be there for each other (obviously the leader is probably there for the student more than the other way around! but you never know!) if you really wanna know what i am talking about, read the melody carlson "Diary of a teenage girl" books. but ill try to just add parts of the books that pertain to what i am talking about later.

Weekly Youth Group Meetings: Incredible worship, a powerful, challenging message, and small groups. sounds like a regular youth group to me. but i am talking, like, seriously. i think a lot of times thats what youth group is SUPPOSED to look like, but the leaders are either not strong enough to keep the kids in line, or they are so afraid of scaring people away by being forceful that they end up sending the kids that really came there looking for something spiritual packing. and, once again, we are searching for a place we can JUST BE FED! really, is that SO much to ask? it sure seems like it! and im sorry, if im offending anyone. really, i am. but this is my opinion. take it...or leave it. but this is something i feel passionate about and im done just keeping my mouth shut for fear of hurting someones feelings. because shutting up doesnt get the world changed. it doesnt get homeless people homes and it doesnt get hungry kids fed... In ANY sense. Physical, spiritual, or otherwise.
Oh, i guess ive gotten away from my plan. well, back to it we go! :)
Now, this is actually a two-fold idea.
theres 2 Bi-Weekly plans that fit together.
so, one week theres plan one
next week theres plan two.
the following week theres plan one again,
so on and so forth.
now, to tell you what plans one and two are!
plan one: An in home small group for students that want to dig deeper into God's Word, each other lives and our own. To build relationships and be there for each other.
Plan two, "missions" trips. we just spend a night, every other week, going out as a group, a team, and showing others God's Love. As my family and i were discussing last night, its great, wonderful, to be fed in a church. but all that doesnt mean anything, or at least not as much as it could, if we arent being fed, and then going out into the world and feeding other people. only then are we living like Jesus. at least in this aspect. i dont know the particulars. but i mean even something as simple as... going to the gas station and washing peoples car windows while they pump their gas. or we could go out for ice cream and give the cashier money for the next peoples order. whether they look like they "need" it or not. thats not the point and thats really not up to us to decide, is it?
and what about a summer camp...? ok. im getting carried away. but i dont view that as a bad thing. not. at. all... :) i am so excited about this new idea God has planted inside of me! :)

Challenge week 2

Hi, everyone.
I am back again, I stopped the challenge on Thursday. The clothes and music challenge that is. But not the bible challenge. I have learned a lot this week.
1. That looks don't matter, it's the inside that counts.
2. That the bible is totally relative to my life.

I was reading Genesis 26-50 this week, and i realized that these people faced some of the same challenges we did like death, lying, jealously, etc. It tears people apart. However, If we are facing something tough we keep it to ourselves or go tell our friends. If they were facing something tough they would go to God and their family. I think we always need to go to God 1st. Our friends can't change anything, They are GREAT, they have a shoulder we can cry on. And they can comfort us with words and give us hugs and make us laugh but that feeling is only temporary. But God can help us for good. He will help you move on.
I think the most touching story for me this week was Joesph's. He faced the concequences of his brother's jealousy. But they turned out to be good in the end. If you haven't read that story yet I think you should read it right away. It was very eye-opening to see that people way back when faced some of the same problems we face today. So those of you who are doing the clothing challenge, Music challenge, tv challenge, Bible challenge, one or all (if any) Keep going you can do it and it is very rewarding.
~Hannah~

Challenge

Hi, Sorry its been so long since i have posted. We have been really busy lately and I haven't had anything to write about. But the other night my dad challenged me and my sister to read the entire bible in 1 year. He also questioned us about our Music and Tv choices. That really got me thinking about what I do listen to and watch. And what is thrown in my face everyday about Love. And so I made a commitment to not watch Inapporiate tv, not listen to non christian music wear bermuda shorts or jeans and a plain tee everyday(usually there clean) and to post on here once a week and to read the bible according to the plan shown below. So if u want to join me we can encourage each other. But here is the reading plan if you want to join in. My parents got it from The North Point Church but it isn't on their website anymore. You read 1 section a week: (note they are chapters not verses)
Week 1: Genesis 1-25
Week 2: Genesis 26-50
Week 3: Job 1-24
Week 4: Job 25-42 and Exodus 1-10
Week 5: Exodus 11-34
Week 6: Exodus 35-40 and Leviticus 1-15
Week 7: Leviticus 16-27 and Numbers 1-4
Week 8: Numbers 5-21
Week 9: Numbers 22-36 and Psalms 1-17
Week 10: Psalms 18-55
Week 11: Psalms 56-94
Week 12: Psalms 95-150
Notice that I only put through Week 12 I will put more up later but that should be good for now.
Anyway I read Genesis 1-25 this week (Monday starts a new week for me) And it made me Realize this: All these people gave up what they had for the Lord like Abraham was Going to kill his son Issac because the Lord asked him to. And It would mean so much to me to have that much Faith, and I am working on it but I don't know how long that will take. As I was reading that story inparticular Is that I don't know if I would be able to tell if that was God telling me to kill my son or if it was Satan ( assuming I had a son) but God has a much more powerful voice and He is Kinder and More Compassionate and you can tell it in His voice. I highly suggest 3 things:
1. you read and stick to this plan with me.
2. You see the Last song Movie.
3. You watch Alvin and the Chipmunks the squeakquel.
Note:I am doing the Plain tee and Long shorts along with no make-up because I think we all need to get over what other people think and this is my way of doing that, I read it in a book but I don't remember which one. So thanks to whoever had the Idea.I am on day 3,I think and so far I am still a little embarresed to go out in over sized tees and no make-up,but by the end I think it will be smooth sailing. Hope everyone who reads this finds it helpful I will be giving my opinion each week on the Bible reading so please read next weeks I will be anxious to read what happens and I hope you will too!
Hannah