Battlefield

Yesterday was a big day in Cypress Student Ministries. It was the last Sunday of summer. The last Sunday before school starts. The last Sunday our students didn't have to worry about rushing home to finish up all the homework they forgot to do the entire weekend.

It was also a very bittersweet Sunday for a couple of our students that will be leaving for college this week.

So, naturally we focused in on this very big time of change during our programming yesterday. Here's what I learned...

An surprisingly large number of our students confessed that school feels more like a "battlefield" than a positive environment. The majority of students I surveyed said they're not really excited about school to start so much as they are bracing for the unwelcome blow that would surely come. If not this week, shortly thereafter.

I was shocked. I know that there is a small percentage of students that find themselves on the bottom of the social pyramid who are subjected to bullying and unfair treatment in school but most of our kids?

The athletic kids?

The popular kids?

The smart kids?

The outgoing kids?

Student after student I spoke with said, "yes". And the minefield looks different to each of them. For some it is bullying but for others it might be gossip, judgment, pressure to perform, pettiness, staring, hating what you see in the mirror, competition, or speech class or 101 other things.

My heart broke for these students. Your students. My students.

So the challenge was this: instead of walking down the halls or campuses of your schools paralysed by the mines that lay in your path, look up. Look around you. Look up out of your pain and look into the eyes of another's. And ask yourself this question: is it possible to form an alliance with the students God has placed in my path so that we can fight this battle together, on the same side? Is it possible that instead of seeing school as a battlefield God is asking me to see it as an opportunity to allow the light of his unconditional love to shine through me to make this school a brighter place?

And remember the promises in Matthew 5 for those of you that take God up on this challenge...

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Sunday Night Rewind

Thanks for coming out on Sunday night and inviting your friends. If you were there then you know we had a BLAST. Beginning with the hilarious youtube footage that The Chuckah brought to our attention (that's why you gotta get there early), to The Chuckah scoring a goal by actually falling into the goal, to The Chuckah sharing a heartfelt story and impassioned plea to all of us to continually seek out the God that creates beauty from very ugly situations like the front side of a tapestry.

If you weren't there you're not going to want to miss out any longer because we're gearing up for an awesome year as school starts back up. We've launched our new Student Action Team that will begin meeting this Sunday to think up some awesome ministry plans for this year AND we're planning a trip to Kenya, Africa. Can it get any more exciting than that??

Remember: bring your cash next week because we'll be launching the sale of small sugary items to snack on during youth group PLUS the soda cooler will be full!

Team Building 8.15.2009

Last Saturday morning a group of High Tiders took a trip out to Trinity to a ropes course there to work on team building but ended up with so much more;) We had an AWESOME facilitator and I was super proud of everyone that participated...see the pics below...

What is IT?

Over the last few weeks our Senior Pastor Douglas Poole has been bombarding us with emails, mailings, and posters all over campus with the word "IT" all over the place.

But what is the "IT" he's so excited about?

Why is "IT" the only thing he can seem to talk about these days?

Because, we believe, the only way we can be a church that reaches our community with the love of Christ and raise up fully devoted followers within our walls is to be full of "IT"! Whatever that quality is that excites people about the things of God. Whatever that thing is that makes people hungry to know more about living a life of purpose and vision!

So, we're going to attempt together to understand what its going to take to get "IT" together as a community!

This includes YOU, the parents and students of our church!

On Sunday, August 16th we're going to be launching the Sunday morning series called "IT".

On Sunday, August 23rd and 30th there will be an opportunity to sit back over a cup of coffee with Pastor Poole and chat about how Cypress will be pursuing IT for the next 18 months.

Please make every effort to attend one of these vision-sharing gatherings!! Students - I will be looking for you to lead the church in this movement. I am excited to see all of you sitting up front ready to get engaged in leading the adults toward "IT"!

Make the 23rd or 30th on your calendar today!