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High School Choir Tour 2006

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:02:36 GMT

The Schweitzer UMC High School Choir
-In Mount Aire, North Carolina by Andy Grifth's hometown

My uncle John, aunt Jacquie, and I at Trinity United Methodist Church.
The youth choir sang on Sunday morning at my families church outside of Atlanta.

All of us chaperones at the Atlanta Braves Game.
Melody, Ali, ME, and Cheryl

We are so lucky!!! We really got spoiled.

Megan and I at Wrightsville Beach in South Carolina.

Here is a stain glass window at a United Methodsit Church we sang at.

A group picture of the whole high school choir tour on top of the Appl. mountains.
We had a wonderful time and learned more about the east coast.
Thanks be to God for a wonderful trip!

Okay I gave in...

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 02:08:50 GMT

I gave in to the world of myspace. (Thanks Bruno!!) I am actually enjoying it, but it has taken me along time to figure out colors, pictures, and the concept. The last two weeks I have learned that all kinds of good ole' friend are on it from my old high school, college, and sigma kappa. So if you can find me in the world of myspace.. congradulations! Okay, I am really exicted. My parents are coming down to Springfield to see me this week. We are going to go shopping, Silver Dollar City thing, the lake, look at art, and just hang out. Happy Sunday!

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 01:25:31 GMT

For all of my uncertainty

my doubt

my insecurity

my blindness-

there is one prayer

that I know my Father has answered,

"Lord, break me."

Amazing God, Forever!

Amen.

A week later--

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 23:26:41 GMT

So, I thought I would have time to blog my trip to Atlanta and the Carolina's. Every time I tried to get on wifi it would cost me ten dollars or something... so I kept on waiting. The high school choir trip was amazing. I learned more about about the youth, parents, and chaperones. The youth were so funny with their jokes, stories, devotions, fabulous singing, hospitality, and being themselves. I am so proud to be part of an amazing church that has excellent leaders in our youth group. I appreciate the long talks, the good laughs, the marathon of movies on the bus, the pork sandwich (from Snappy Lunch), and 9 wonderful days of witnessing to others about our christian love. I will post pictures of the trip early this next week. Enjoy the rest of the weekend! xoxo-

Go Atlanta!!!

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 05:16:46 GMT

So I leave today for the high school choir tour and I am so so excited! Can you feel it!!! I am still in the middle of packing..... packing for 10 days..ah! I have to bring one big suitcase and then another bag b/c all my girlie stuff doesn't fit into one suitcase. The bus driver will forgive me! I am also excited to see my family in Atlanta well (Warner Robbins) @ Trinity UMC. I haven't seen my aunt, uncle, and cousins since Christmas. Well, I am going to try to write about my traveling experiences on my blog. Also, we are spending one whole day at the Carolina beach.. I am thrilled to just play, swim, layout, and hang out with friends.
Day 1: We load bus at 10am and leave for Nashville. More to come....

oh, Molly- I had a great time at lunch today! We are too spoiled puppies!!

Memorial Weekend

Tue, 30 May 2006 01:54:54 GMT

I survived the weekend of X-Men 3 at midnight showing, camping with the whole family at the lake, long talks with my cousins, visiting with all my Sigma Kappa friends at the lake, eating wonderful food, catching up on family gossip, and laughing around the fire. I love long weekends at the lake and seeing old friends from my past. This week I work for three days and then I am off on a high school choir tour to Atlanta and South Carolina. How was your memorial weekend?

Congradulations 2006 Graduates!

Tue, 23 May 2006 15:18:33 GMT

It was amazing last night to see all the seniors walk accross the stage. Some screamed, some danced, some cried, and some just looked bored. I want to say congradulations to all the Seniors... good luck with the future, have fun, and don't dweal on the past. Amazing!

Call Me Crazy

Sat, 20 May 2006 15:00:04 GMT

CALL ME CRAZY
But I’m a fanatic for the message of the Cross.

by Greg Stier

Kevin was a tough young thug from Queens, N.Y. He moved to Colorado when he was 19. Ten years ago, he went to the mall to hang out and drink with two buddies. That night our paths crossed. After sharing the gospel with him and getting turned down, I asked him if he would read a book, More Than a Carpenter, by Josh McDowell (a book that addresses questions about Jesus and shows He’s Lord through both historical and scientific evidence) if I gave it to him. He hesitantly agreed. Little did I know that he’d follow through with his promise.

Eventually our paths crossed again. When Kevin walked into my office, he threw down the tattered copy of More Than a Carpenter that I gave him at the mall and said, “This is for you.” I picked it up. As I leafed through it, I noticed all the highlights and notes he had scribbled in the margins on his journey to Jesus.

My eyes filled with tears. “I can’t take this, Kevin. I gave it to you for keeps.” I’ll never forget his response: “Greg, I carry like 40 of these things in my car to pass out to others. This is my gift back to you for witnessing to me so many years ago.”

That’s the power of the gospel. It’s like a grenade — if you pull the pin, it’s going to explode.

That doesn’t mean that we’re careless in the way we share this potent message. We must be strategic, creative and relational. But it’s not the strategy, the creativity or the relationship that saves . . . it’s the message of the Cross. Sound fanatical?

ME, A FANATIC?

Christianity needs teen fanatics. I’m talking about ordinary people with a compelling cause and a magnificent obsession with the Cross of Christ.

In our pursuit of cultural coolness and real life relevance, have we forgotten that at the core of Christianity is a horrific and bloody event that we are commanded to tell everyone about? This message is our one thing to live and give in our short span on Earth.

The fanatics of the early New Testament wouldn’t shut up about it. Perhaps the biggest fanatic of them all was Paul. He was so committed to preaching this one message that for the 18 months he ministered in Corinth, his one message was Christ and Him crucified. Paul knew that preaching this powerful message would transform the church from the inside out. It can do the same for you and me.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Paul bids us come and join him in his fantastic fanaticism. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, he promises that the preaching of the Cross will unite, clarify priorities and transform our world. See how this applies to you:

1. UNITE

The Corinthian church was struggling with unity. There were several factions within the church. Some were followers of the distinguished Paul, others of the articulate Apollos, and still others followed the rugged apostle Peter. Arguments had erupted from within the church. This body of believers that was supposed to be working together for the accomplishment of the Great Commission had been divided into fragments of followers. They were more concerned about their own agendas than with the Lord Jesus Christ and His will for them.

Paul had a special gift of cutting through the clutter and getting right to heart of the matter. In a world filled with distraction and division, Paul didn't try to take sides. He simply pointed them to the Cross.

You see, something about the Cross erases all of our petty differences. In the shadow of the Cross, styles of worship and controversies over minor doctrinal differences fade into insignificance.

2. CLARIFY PRIORITIES

Paul understood his top priority was to preach the gospel. He understood the inherent power of that simple message. As an apostle he had many important responsibilities: to baptize new believers into the faith, to teach Christians to exercise their spiritual gifts and to equip elders to shepherd their churches. All of these duties were very important. But to Paul, job No. 1 was to preach the gospel!

Maybe we could put it this way, “Christ sent me not to ______ but to preach the gospel!” You fill in the blank:

• be in the church youth choir

• attend Fellowship of Christian Athletes

• go on a missions trip

• lead a Christian club

These things should never distract us from job No. 1. So, here’s a question: When was the last time you actually shared your faith with someone? Are you spending more time talking about evangelism than doing it?

3. TRANSFORM OUR WORLD

Never underestimate the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to change a life. God loves to use the foolish and fanatical proclamation of this simplistic message to launch a movement of changed lives. He loves to use teens to do great things for His kingdom. Maybe that’s why every spiritual awakening in America has had young people on the leading edge.

It is my prayer that once again, God will raise up a generation of teens who are tired of the typical and have a yearning for the biblical.

article taken from www.breakawaymag.com

this was borrowed from another amazing zanga site on my contact list.
Thanks be to God and how Glorious He can be. Amen.

Ahhh! Super Crazy!

Fri, 19 May 2006 14:59:13 GMT

It's almost the end of May and things are flying by. I am thrilled to be the director of the most amazing youth minstry program and have the most amazing and unbelievable youth. The beginnning of May started with the middle school choir tour to St. Louis, then we had a youth car wash (raised 620.00) for missions, youth sunday on mother's day, all the senior graduating, graduation parties, and preparing for two major mission trips. I am really hoping I can keep up on blogging and share with you all the amazing things we are doing this summer.

Well, after 24 years in the same household my parents decided to up and move. They bought a beautiful home out on a farm, with three ponds, 9 miles off the main road, the house is between platte city and smithville northeast. On Sunday afternoon I made my way up to Kansas City to celebrate the evening with my mom for mother's day. Then Monday I helped them take the last load from the old house to the new house. I helped my parents unpack 30 years of stuff on Monday and Tuesday. It was so good to get home, relax, eat good food, visit with all my cousins over a huge party on the big deck. I am even more excited to go camping with them over memorial weekend at the lake.

Enjoy your weekend!

Storms

Thu, 04 May 2006 11:53:56 GMT

So yesterday evening we had a storm roll through Springfield. It just happen to be at the tail end of middle school bible study. So being the responsilbe one I had everyone gather up and go down stairs in the basement of our church. Let's just say it was a ton of fun seeing the reaction to the youth, volunteers, and parents. Springfield area freaks out about storms... I am orginally from Kansas City and have been involved in many tornados in my lifetime. In 2003, my parents home got hit during my brothers graduation party. We happen to have 65 people over hiding in our basement. My parents roof was gone, the third floor destroyed, and debris everywhere after the storm was over. Our whole Parkville area was effect by a huge tornado that afternoon So, to say the least I take storms serious. But seeing others reactions last night was a little to much, kinda funny. This weekend is the middle school choir tour. Yeah!