PARENTS FORCING CHILDREN TO ATTEND YOUTH

Here is a picture of someone at Hampton United Methodist Church in Hampton, NH. As I write this it is thundering outside and I have just come from a meeting of youth parents and sponsors at which I learned that some parents that I respect force their children to come to youth. This is a blog that focuses on good news, so let me mention the feeling of this beautiful burden of wanting to flee the church grounds as fast as I can after the meeting is over, because soon the church will be silent. No fellowship and happy singing until next week. But I am thirty three years old. Out of my parents' house, and incidentally, they do not have a church home. Is this a question of forgiveness? of moving forward? but as to the question of fleeing the silence, when we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun.

STARK EFFECTS OF THE GREAT RECESSION

HAMPTON, N.H. (CBS) – Some town leaders in New Hampshire say the state’s plan to shut their street lights off at night puts people at risk. The lights will go out on many New Hampshire highways in June as a cost saving measure. In Hampton, those outages go right through the heart of their business district and people are worried. On busy Ocean Boulevard, they are gearing up for peak season. As tourists flock to the beach, they will likely find it darker than before. Among the thousands of street lights the state plans to cut power to, at least 21 are along this stretch of road. It’s shocking news to theowners of Sweet Hannah’s. “I think having the streets lit up at night helps all the businesses on the beach,” says business owner Marc Lane. “I think there are safety concerns, particularly late at night.” im Leamanczyk, Lauren. "Local." Plan To Shut Off Street Lights In NH Worries Towns, Businesses « CBS Boston. CBS BOSTON, 9 Apr. 2012. Web. 10 July 2012. . The wife of the idiot man, who in addition to him happens to be a sociology professor at my university, is not here to tell me not to post a newspaper article on my blog, so here is the latest in shocking budget cuts.

THIS BEAUTIFUL BURDEN

at the risk of someone seeing and commenting on my blog, i am going to say that this is a frightening and wonderful new experience, that is, not wanting to leave my church for summer vacation. i don't want to sit and feel sad, but i do not want to leave my church either, which is why i have chosen the title i have. This is a strange new feeling, and yet Jesus loves them more than I do.

FAITHBOOK ROC 2012

Amazing...isn't it??? They have trees up there, and I started thinking about mountaintop experiences and their importance.
Jesus takes his inner circle to a mountain with him and they experience a God thing, something unlike anything they had ever seen. Most of us have had a similar experience, maybe not as intense, but a “mountain top” experience nonetheless. It may have been while worshipping at youth camp, a prayer meeting, or maybe even a conference you attended. God moved there in a way you had never experienced. What did you do with it when it was over? Some attempt to relive the same experience everywhere they go. Life doesn’t seem right if one of those experiences isn’t right around the corner. They began looking for an experience instead of living their life for Jesus. Peter wanted to do just this (Mark 9:5), he wanted to make a memorial to what happened on the mountain so they could come to it and relive the event. But Jesus didn’t allow him to do this and brought them back down the mountain, telling them not to mention this until he was risen from the dead (Mark 9:9). What a buzz kill. You see this awesome thing, you want to keep reliving it over again and again and Jesus says, “Oh yeah, by the way, don’t mention this to anyone until I have risen again.” The disciples didn’t understand this (Mark 9:10), but, Jesus knew what he was doing. He gave them the glowing mountain top to aid them through the dark valley when he would be taken away and murdered. He graciously gives us these experiences so we are able to navigate the many valleys in our lives, not so we can stay on the mountain. So, cherish these mountain top experiences, and draw from them in the valleys. But never create an idol by living for them instead of Jesus.

Bell, Ryan. "Mark 9:2-3 – The Mountain Top Experience." Short Daily Bible Devotions. © Fellowship of Devotional Bloggers., 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2012.


I want to build a house up on this mountain
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
To quench my thirsty soul
Up on the mountain

CHORUS

My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain

I would love to live up on this mountain
And keep the pain of living life so far away
But I know I can't stay
Up on the mountain

CHORUS

I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
For where You are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley
My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain

CHORUS 2
You bring me up here on this mountain
For me to rest and learn and grow
I see the truth up on the mountain And I carry it to the world far below
So as I go down to the valley
Knowing that You will go with me
This is my prayer, Lord
Help me to remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
Up on the mountain

I cherish these times up on the mountain
But I can leave this place because I know
Someday You'll take me home to live forever
Up on the mountain


Chapman, Steven Curtis. Heaven in the Real World. North Hollywood, California: Schnee Studio and Studio At Mole End, ... 1994.

BOW MILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Here is a picture of Bow Mills United Methodist Church, in Bow Mills, NH, flanked by snow that would send fright into the hearts of many a New Mexican. Tonight I am going back to church to help with the youth activities, of which I am honored to be a part. When I finally got up the nerve to join the church, I was asked if I would be faithful to the United Methodist Church with my prayers, my presence, my gifts and my service. The answer was yes!! could I accuse some people who have started going to another service, or who have even left the family, of being unfaithful to their promise to the church? And yet I want God's will for my church, not mine, even though that sounds trite.