What to do on a rainy Saturday?

Today is Saturday. It's the last day in April. It's cold outside. It's raining outside. Just a crummy day out. If you find yourself reading this share with us one of two things:

1) What do you do on a boring Saturday afternoon?

2) What do you do on a quiet, cold, rainy day?

I would love to hear your comments.

-PT

What you missed last night

Once again we had a great time at youth group last night. There were many highlights:

-sloppy joes for dinner
-a quiz on restaurant slogans (won by Derek)
-a parable about the faithful servant
-AMP kids that were amped up!
-and a great game of dodge ball

For the last few weeks some guys (Ben, Hunter, and Nathan - all pictured above) have been giving me a hard time about selecting teams for our game times. They say I never let them be on a team together. So last night we allowed all Tunells in the building (except Grandma and Grandpa) be on the same dodge ball team. Nathan and Ben started out together while AMP had an early start to the games. And unfortunately they lost the first two games. But once the junior highers came out of small group time, the team added Hunter as well as Megan - and the result:

TUNELLS RULE! Three straight wins to take the night as dodge ball champions!

Looks like we'll have to go back to splitting this family up!

-PT

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Here is a thought on our theme verse from the "Clean Slate" retreat. It is from an anonymous student in our youth group:

"When I read this passage of scriptures I think of the retreat this year and that I believe that this verse is important because it tells people that when they accept Christ into their lives then they are a new creation. Their past is gone, and that Jesus died so we could be ambassadors for him. He died for our sin, so we could be righteous like him and be more like him."

It has been a month since our retreat. How is this verse impacting you today?

-PT

Good Friday

It's all about the cross. Good Friday is the day that we reflect and remember what Christ did on the day he went to the cross. He suffered. He suffered mentally, relationally, physically, and emotionally. He was beaten, tormented, spat upon, ridiculed, betrayed, denied, hated, mocked and so much more. All for you. All for me. All for anyone who will receive him. Anyone who will trust in him. Anyone who will put their faith in him.

What does Good Friday mean to you?

If you were at our retreat this year, you should recognize the picture above. That is the cross with all our sins, hurts, habits, pains, mistakes, and everything that we were holding on to. And we nailed them all to the cross - just one month ago. I hope that means something to you today.

-PT

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Once again I wanted to share some thoughts on our theme verse from this year's retreat. Several students wrote out their thoughts on this scripture, many of which were very thought provoking. Here is what Grant Hanson said:

"What I think this passage means is because Jesus died on the cross for our sins we can have a clean slate. After that we realize we should be ambassadors to others for Christ, as well as a good example to all."

Thanks Grant!

-PT

Senior High Night at the White House - Saturday from 6-9pm

Here is proof that I once lived in a white house. This picture is about 3-4 years old.

This Saturday night everyone in 9th through 12th grade is invited out to our place for "Night at the White House." We will have food, play games, have fun, hang out, play, whatever you want to do. We will start at 6pm and it will go until 9pm, sorry we have to put our kids to bed some time. And they won't sleep with multiple teenagers downstairs!

So come on out for a night of fun. We would love to have you join us. And if you need directions just let me know. And if you need a ride we can try and coordinate that with someone else that is coming.

See you Saturday!

-PT

Clean Slate Pictures

Also, click on the link "Youth Group Photos" on the left side of the blog to see the updated picture page.

-PT

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

In our digging deeper class two weeks ago we were discussing the theme verses from our retreat, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. We had all the students that were there write their response to what this passage of verses mean to them. Over the next few days, I will be sharing some of your responses. The first one comes from Falyn McCotter. Above is a handy photo from our retreat as Megan, Falyn, and Jaycie were preparing their minds and competitive spirits for the annual "Fluffy Noodle" basketball game. Here is what Falyn wrote about 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:

"God is forgiving and reconciling each of us to him. He now wants us to go and 'be his ambassadors.' This means telling the rest of the world about our new clean slate"

Amen! So, how are you doing in being an ambassador and sharing your new clean slate with the world?

-PT

E3 this Sunday night!

We have a great event coming up this Sunday night (April 10th) at 6:30pm. It is called E3. It is a night of worship where we will enter, engage, and encounter God's presence together through music, the word of God, and fellowship. All students of all ages are invited to come. The worship band is planning to add extra speakers and turning the volume WAY up. So it will be loud, energetic, fun, amazing, awesome, and wonderful. I hope you ALL can make it, no matter what age you are!

And just on a side note, for all you senior high students (9th-12th graders) this will be what we do for youth group this week. Instead of normal youth group we will just participate in E3.

So come on out this Sunday night at 6:30pm for a powerful night of worship. Refreshments will be served after. I hope to see you there!

-PT

Retreat memory - Tyler Gibson

Here is a short testimony from Tyler about the retreat:

This retreat has made such a difference in my life and my relationship with my lord and savior Jesus Christ. I will never forget the powerful message Grant delivered on Friday night during session 4 nor will I forget the fun we had in the games that we all played. God has made a difference in each and every single one of us but i know for sure i will never be the same after this weekend. Also i send a big Thank you to all the adults and staff that helped out this weekend it wouldn't have been the same without you!

Not Guilty Anymore,

Tyler Gibson