Spring Break

Thanks everyone who came out to scoop ice cream at Haddonfield Home!! They loved you. Plus, how cool was it to meet a 103-year-old man and his girlfriend?! Check out these pics...

So, the bad news from my desk this week is that Battle of the Bands is cancelled. Yup, this is how I feel about it. But we had bands dropping out left and right, and I finally had to say "enough is enough." So tell your friends that next year we'll try it again, and create the most epic rock concert this town has ever seen.

In the meantime, this week we have youth group as usual. I know lots of you have spring break plans, but if you're here and you're bored, come out to church from 6-7:30 for our usual good times with Amy & crew. Obviously, there is no youth group on Easter. Your job is to find eggs, eat candy, and celebrate Jesus. And then come back on April 15th to find out about what youth group is doing this spring. I'll leave you with a little clip about Easter heroes...

So this Easter, I just have one question for you: Mac or PC?

Octogenarians

This weekend our youth group has a chance to spend some time with those older and wiser and cooler than the rest of us - the resident of Haddonfield Home.

Sunday at 2:00 pm is our Haddonfield Home Ice Cream Social. This is a chance to spend some time with people who were born back in the 1920's, 30's and 40's.

Just to put some perspective on that, the Great Depression happened in 1929. In 1936 the first 200 television sets were purchased for private home use. World War II happened in 1939. It wasn't until 1968 that Martin Luther King was assassinated (most of these folks were already in their 30's and 40's). Needless to say, they've seen a lot.

So when you come on Sunday, ask a few questions - "what was the world like when you were a kid?" "what are your fondest memories?" "what advice do you have for today's teenagers?" I am sure you will get some interesting answers, and just by being present and listening, you will be showing respect and offering a rare gift to these folks.

If you're hesitant about approaching people who are so much older and more fragile, consider the wisdom of two important older folks, Moses and Yoda.

Directions to Haddonfield Home:
From Kings Highway, make a left onto Warwick Road. Haddonfield Home is one block down on the right. Parking on Moore Street or West Summit. Please arrive at 2:00 and plan to stay about an hour.
No evening youth group.

Saint Who?

Saturday is Saint Patrick's Day. So who was the man behind the myth?

Saint Patrick was a slave, a prisoner, an adventurer, a scholar, and a missionary. Basically, he was the Rambo of Celtic Christianity (not the greatest metaphor, but I'm going with it). Because of him, the Druidic culture of Ireland came to embrace Christianity, and in the process managed to save civilization.

Patrick is considered the "Patron Saint of the Excluded." Because he was taken as a young boy into slavery, and lived in a culture not his own, he knew what it was to be an "outsider" and to be mistreated. Yet rather than take revenge, Patrick came back to Ireland and preached the gospel to its people, choosing love over bitterness.

Here's a prayer from Saint Patrick that is worth remembering. (Notice how I have printed it festively in green letters, in the spirit of the holiday):

This day I call to me:
God's strength to direct me,
God's power to sustain me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's vision to light me,
God's ear to my hearing,
God's word to my speaking,
God's hand to uphold me,
God's pathway before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's legions to save me.

So if you're Irish, or you feel excluded, or you're a Christian, Patrick is your man.

And if I catch you not wearing green on Saturday, I will pinch you.

Dancing Dude

Someone pointed me to this crazy footage. As you can see, this guy has two passions: traveling and dancing...




Watching this video made me think about this story. King David wasn't worried about what people thought of his dance moves. He danced because it made God happy, and that made him happy.
So, if you wanna dance, DANCE!!