JUNO

Just got around to seeing the movie JUNO with Katey and Clay. Pro-life and pro-adoption. I loved it.

What do you do when your 14 yr old begs to spend the day with you?

You drop everything and spend the day with her. OK, don't really be impressed, it took me weeks to drop everything and give her a day. But today was the day. We went to Target, went to the mall with her and a friend. Spent HOURS at the mall, eating, shopping, laughing etc.... came home, rented 27 dresses, watched the movie.
May there never be a time that I am not willing to spend the day with my teenager if she is willing to spend the day with me.

Pray, Pray, Pray

One of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman’s six children was killed this afternoon when she was struck by a car said to be driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.

The child, Maria, age 5, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
She was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver’s name.

The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see the 5-year-old in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.
“It appears to be a terrible accident,’’ McPherson said.

No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.

Veteran singer/songwriter Chapman and his wife Mary Beth have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria is one of their adopted daughters.

The couple is so active they formed an organization, Shaohannah’s Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt.
The tragedy was announced during services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. The young girl had just graduated from the church preschool.

Most of the family was at Vanderbilt children’s hospital after the accident and could not be contacted.
The long gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.
“The critical response team of the THP is reconstructing the accident,” McPherson said. “The district attorney’s office was consulted.”

Chapman was in the news in April when he was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame.

Water’s Edge (youth group) Talk- how your serving can change the world-----May 18

This is the talk I am giving tonight to the Jr. High and Sr. High youth groups at church. It makes me feel old because I am 44 and have not yet changed the world. My prayer is that the Lord will continue to narrow my visions to things He is passionate about. And broaden my impact for Him.


Tonight we are talking about how serving changes the world
When I think about changing the world – it’s a huge idea, to big for me to grasp, and you are probably thinking as one person, I can’t do anything big enough to change the world.

But how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time
And how do you change the world by serving one person at a time

I have three things you need to keep in mind to change the world:
The first is 1. It can be done
1 timothy 4:12 says
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Can you imagine if world change started in our church and it started with Water’s Edge.
Cnn has heroes awards – you can go on line and nominate people and see the varies winners and one of the categories is young wonders
Here are just a few:
Kayla Cornale, 18, of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, who developed a musical system to improve communications with autistic people

Pat Pedraja is only 12.
When he was diagnosed with leukemia he learned that minorities like himself make up less than a third of the U.S. bone marrow registry--so he started Driving for Donors. He travels the country to encourage minorities to register. This year, he signed up more than 5,000 donors in three months.

According to UNICEF, one of every six people on Earth lacks access to safe drinking water. So Sixteen-year-old Ryan Hreljac, who lives near Ottawa, Ontario, is working to change that. To date, the Ryan's Well Foundation has built 266 wells in 12 developing countries, bringing clean water to more than 435,000 people.
These are great examples of young people who served and are impacting the world

The second thing you need to keep in mind to change the world is
2.Your impact can be eternal
Right now in Hollywood it is very hip to help countries internationally, angelie jjolie and bread pitt are paving the way, and it is wonderful but if the people they impact don’t know jesus, they have only impacted 50 -80 years of their eternity.

Last summer, The Voice of the Martyrs which is a non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.
invited eight ordinary teenagers from around the United States and Australia to meet the underground church of Vietnam. Their mission was simple-to bring Bibles and other help to Christians in a restricted nation. 


Can you imagine at your age right now, smuggling Bibles into Viet Nam? Kids your age are doing it.

The third way your serving can change the world
is by giving what you have to God

I want to take you to John 6:5-13 This is when Jesus feeds the five thousand
He’s been teaching all day and they have no food for these people
In Vs 8 one of the disciples says “here is a boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish how far will they go among so many?” but Jesus takes it and starts to feed the people and then in verse13 they gathered the leftovers and it filled 12 baskets.
One small boy willing to share his lunch in a situation that seemed pointless got to see God multiply it!!

A few years ago there was a boy at my school, cfs, who needed to do community service hours for school – so he decided to collect money for an organization (International Justice Mission) who helps free modern slaves in other countries –where kids are enslaved in sex trades, working in factories and fields and so much more. His service project has grown into an arm of IJM. He has spoken all over the world and won awards and has helped so many people because he took something small and gave it to God. Lets watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3_V84gbUZs (if unable to see this video cut and paste it into your internet browswer)

Let me end with this quote by Margaret mead..
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Let’s pray

Three Words Only

Last Sunday: Breast Cancer Walk
Monday: Rest at home
Tuesday: Teacher Appreciation Day
Wednesday: Karate and Lacrosse
Thursday: Eat dinner out
Friday: Grading till late
Saturday: Sports rained out
This Sunday: