Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Friday, November 13, 2015
Senior Youth Retreat Info and Waiver.
For information, waiver form, packing list, etc. for the Senior High retreat December 11-13, click here: BMC Senior Youth Retreat 2015
If you have any questions, feel free to call: 204-327-5208, or email: bmcyouthpastor@gmail.com
Have a great day!
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Thoughts on transitions and memory making.
Senior Youth kicked off last night, and it was super encouraging to be able to meet with the fantastic young people that make up the group called BMC Senior Youth. We had a lot of fun together. Fun is part of what we do together, because we know that having fun together is an important part of creating a safe environment for people to be themselves. As fun as the fun parts were, I was more excited to hear about how our young people are doing.
What were the things that caused them to celebrate throughout the summer? Most of the celebrations seemed to center around family vacations, or camping getaways. The students reflected on the importance of stepping out of the normal every day stuff and doing things that were extra-ordinary. My encouragement to you parents out there who are doing the best you can, is that you're doing a great job. Even if extra-ordinary for you isn't an extravagant vacation, I would encourage you to do special things with your teenagers. Go out of your way to do something just for them. They will probably brush it off, and you may think it was unimportant or another blip on their radar. Those are the things we hear about at youth. The special moments. Invest in your family by planning special things. They don't have to cost a bunch of money or be super far away. It may be enough just to break the routine and spend some "no technology" time together as a family.
Blessings as fall transitions are happening!
Gerry G,
What were the things that caused them to celebrate throughout the summer? Most of the celebrations seemed to center around family vacations, or camping getaways. The students reflected on the importance of stepping out of the normal every day stuff and doing things that were extra-ordinary. My encouragement to you parents out there who are doing the best you can, is that you're doing a great job. Even if extra-ordinary for you isn't an extravagant vacation, I would encourage you to do special things with your teenagers. Go out of your way to do something just for them. They will probably brush it off, and you may think it was unimportant or another blip on their radar. Those are the things we hear about at youth. The special moments. Invest in your family by planning special things. They don't have to cost a bunch of money or be super far away. It may be enough just to break the routine and spend some "no technology" time together as a family.
Blessings as fall transitions are happening!
Gerry G,
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Running in the wrong direction?
It's a good morning for Good news!
Second Corinthians 5:21 NLT reads, "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."
Too often we believe that the circumstances or sins that we've entangled ourselves in are firmly outside the redemptive grace of Christ. Redemptive being a big word rooted in redeem. If we believe that anything in our life is "unredeemable," (whether that's a real word or not) we are displaying a lack of confidence in the power and majesty of Christ and his sacrifice for us.
God wants a relationship with us, not just you or I personally, but humankind. He is described often in the old testament as "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Psalm 103:8 ESV. God is good, merciful, and gracious.
The good news that Christ proclaimed while here on earth, was that the Kingdom of God is near. He didn't urge people to throw more money at problems that they see in the world, he didn't say give more money to the churches, or mission organizations. He wanted people to turn back to God, show mercy, and kindness to the people around you. If you give $50,000 to charity per year, but you treat the people who work for you unfairly, or exploit people to make profits in your business, God is not pleased with you. He is gracious though, and merciful, and he wants us to make decisions everyday that honor him first.He wants us to do what Christ taught us to, love God, and love others. If we have no regard for others, how can the love of God be in us?
Stop running from God to hide your messes. He's already proven that he wants to forgive us, by sending Jesus to make us right with him and take our penalty. Accept the truth, and start living right!
I'm so thankful that when I make mistakes as a youth pastor, dad, and husband, that Christ offers grace, mercy, forgiveness, and a fresh start. I'm so thankful that he's constantly at work in my life and heart, nudging me to turn toward him in every situation.
My Christian brothers and sisters, I want to challenge you to review your day every night before you go to sleep and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any sins you may have committed in your heart, mind, or body and ask him to enable you to stand up to those temptations when they come again. Christ is stronger.
May God's peace be with you.
Monday, August 17, 2015
What's on your mind?
Facebook often asks me, "What's on your mind?" The things that are most often on my mind lately I find, are things like lists and lists of things that I need to do, or all the things that I would like to do if I had the money or the time. It's so easy for us to become distracted and unfocused on the things that matter in light of all the tiny things that pile up. I'm learning that I'm the sort of person that likes to have everything lined up and thought out before I make a decision or do a project. I am often afraid that I will forget a detail (or ten), in the many things that seem to be bouncing around in my head.
How often do thoughts of God dominate my day? Am I often in prayer about the stresses and situations that come up? How often do I take time in my day to focus on the needs of others rather than my own? Does concern for the needs of others (spiritual, physical, emotional, mental) show up in my life in the ways I spend my time, my money, or my energy? These are all important questions to ask ourselves regularly since life in North America can be hectic, stressful, and busy.
I've come to find that when I'm stressed I tend to become more self-focused. It is of utmost importance to keep reminding ourselves of the truth that God has declared through Jesus. It is also important that we continue to think of others before ourselves, if we continue to do this especially in the hard times we will develop endurance.
Matthew 11:28 reads, "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
If your life seems crazy, busy, and spinning out of control and you are not sure how to handle it, my advice would be to be intentional about taking time to retreat with the Lord. Spend time in his word, and let him know the things that are going on in your head and heart. He cares for you and wants to listen and speak to you.
How often do thoughts of God dominate my day? Am I often in prayer about the stresses and situations that come up? How often do I take time in my day to focus on the needs of others rather than my own? Does concern for the needs of others (spiritual, physical, emotional, mental) show up in my life in the ways I spend my time, my money, or my energy? These are all important questions to ask ourselves regularly since life in North America can be hectic, stressful, and busy.
I've come to find that when I'm stressed I tend to become more self-focused. It is of utmost importance to keep reminding ourselves of the truth that God has declared through Jesus. It is also important that we continue to think of others before ourselves, if we continue to do this especially in the hard times we will develop endurance.
Matthew 11:28 reads, "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
If your life seems crazy, busy, and spinning out of control and you are not sure how to handle it, my advice would be to be intentional about taking time to retreat with the Lord. Spend time in his word, and let him know the things that are going on in your head and heart. He cares for you and wants to listen and speak to you.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Why playing is important.
Today, I want to encourage everyone who is a parent to keep playing with your kids. It can be easy in the busyness of life to forget to nurture the playful spirits that children have. We may feel tired, or discouraged by the stresses that unexpected bills, problems, or the never-ending list of things that we "need" to get done.
Children develop identity in close relation to the emotions that they feel. They chemically link emotions and memories. Their memory works sort of like a series of snapshots. At around 12, they start to develop the ability to string these snapshots together, and develop their identity from these things. If the majority of the snapshots that they find are linked with negative emotions, they can easily develop a negative view of themselves. Perhaps they think, "I'm just a sad person, because most of my memories are sad." Or they may think, "I'm just an angry person, because I'm always angry."
You might be asking, how does this relate to playing? We need to cultivate joy in the lives of our children, and ourselves. As a young parent myself, I love to watch my son Judah enjoy life. I love it when he is captivated by the wonder of the world that God has made. When we play, we realize that the world is not just dark, depressing, and gloomy. There is joy, and wonder to be found. Encourage positive memory-making with your kids. Take time and invest it into your kids, expressing your joy in them. Play with them,and let them work alongside you. Make positive memories together.
It's important to note that Jesus can change these negative self-images in a heartbeat, although, often he addresses them little by little as we grow in relationship with him.
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
Jesus took time for children, let's follow his example!
Be Blessed!
Children develop identity in close relation to the emotions that they feel. They chemically link emotions and memories. Their memory works sort of like a series of snapshots. At around 12, they start to develop the ability to string these snapshots together, and develop their identity from these things. If the majority of the snapshots that they find are linked with negative emotions, they can easily develop a negative view of themselves. Perhaps they think, "I'm just a sad person, because most of my memories are sad." Or they may think, "I'm just an angry person, because I'm always angry."
You might be asking, how does this relate to playing? We need to cultivate joy in the lives of our children, and ourselves. As a young parent myself, I love to watch my son Judah enjoy life. I love it when he is captivated by the wonder of the world that God has made. When we play, we realize that the world is not just dark, depressing, and gloomy. There is joy, and wonder to be found. Encourage positive memory-making with your kids. Take time and invest it into your kids, expressing your joy in them. Play with them,and let them work alongside you. Make positive memories together.
It's important to note that Jesus can change these negative self-images in a heartbeat, although, often he addresses them little by little as we grow in relationship with him.
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
Jesus took time for children, let's follow his example!
Be Blessed!
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Everyday Miracles
What if we always recognized all the everyday miracles in our lives?
So often people ask God to do the impossible, and fail to recognize his hand in the ordinary. What if it's a miracle that you woke up this morning? What if it's a miracle that you took that breath you just did? What if your genetic code is a miracle? What if it's a miracle that you are even alive? What if it's a miracle if you didn't get into a vehicle accident today? Or that you have food to eat, a place to live, a place to sleep, friends, family? All these good things that we can take for granted
Take a minute to take stock of the everyday miracles in your life.
James 1:17 NIV Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,who does not change like shifting shadows.
Miracles of the day:
Jesus has saved me, set me free, made me whole, and given me a right relationship with God! And he continues to teach and mould me to reflect his character everyday.
My beautiful wife
My son Judah
My brother Eric showing up at just the right time to help me get my brakepads replaced and wheel back on before it started to rain.
Food to eat
A job/calling that I love
And many more.
My prayer for you is that as you reflect on the everyday miracles in your life, that you would grow in faith, and seek to be a miracle to someone you meet today, or tomorrow, or everyday.
May you enjoy the peace of Christ today.
Gerry.
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