Fact: with 11 people the chairs in BCC's sanctuary can be stacked and moved to the sides in about 5-8 minutes.
Fact: it takes hours to get them back where they are supposed to be when the tape has been vacuumed up or moved.
I do not like getting ready to drink something, thinking it is one thing but it turns out to be something else. (Like when you sip what you think is water and it turns out to be some kind of flavored water. Or when you sip what you think is Coke but turns out to be Root Beer. Or when you order iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts with coconut flavor but when you drink it, it is raspberry flavored.)
I hate seeing pools get covered for the winter.
Rita's now sells pumpkin Italian ice - it is good.
I think it is time to clean my office.
I am tired of hearing about politics. I think the "politics" is a funny word.
I am almost 24 and for the first time in my life I found a video game that I am always wanting to play.
I want to go to the beach.
Well,
You read it - you can't unread it!
~ Charles.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Animals are Weird
I talked about these animals at Rock the other night, some of them I skipped, but check this stuff out:
~ Largest Fish: The Whale Shark, it is not a whale but it is called that because of its size. This thing swims around with its mouth open so that it can eat plankton. Because of this, it makes it hard for him to see so he has these sensors on his body that tell him when the pressure in the water is changing so that he can avoid "running" into stuff. And this is the best part, if you were accidentally swallowed by one of these babies you would get vomited back up because this thing can turns its stomach inside out and dump everything back out its mouth. Like turning your pocket inside-out. That's crazy stuff right there.
~ Oldest Living Creature: The Madagascar radiated tortoise. One of these things has been recorded to have lived 188 years! They are only found in Madagascar, and they only grow up to like 35 pounds.
~ Biggest Freshwater Fish: In May 2005 these guys in Thailand caught a Giant Mekong Catfish that was 9 feet long and wieghed 646 pounds! This fish is 5 times bigger than the world record holder before him! I think Catfish are gross.
~ The Strongest Creature: The Rhinoceros Beetle can carry 850 times its own weight. A human body builder can only lift up to 17 times their own weight.
~ The Largest Land Carnivore: I love this one, not because it is bizarre, but because I think they are really cool. Polar Bears are the largest and one of the strongest, carnivores out there. Their hair is actually clear and they look white or yellowish because of the way the clear hair reflects the light. They even have paws that are huge and rounded to make walking on snow a little bit easier, like built-in snowshoes. Kodiak bear holds a close second place to the Polar Bear. I know this video is a little gross because of the blood, but check out the pure strength this guy has, it is crazy!
You read it. .............................You cannot unread it!
~ Charles.
~ Largest Fish: The Whale Shark, it is not a whale but it is called that because of its size. This thing swims around with its mouth open so that it can eat plankton. Because of this, it makes it hard for him to see so he has these sensors on his body that tell him when the pressure in the water is changing so that he can avoid "running" into stuff. And this is the best part, if you were accidentally swallowed by one of these babies you would get vomited back up because this thing can turns its stomach inside out and dump everything back out its mouth. Like turning your pocket inside-out. That's crazy stuff right there.
~ Oldest Living Creature: The Madagascar radiated tortoise. One of these things has been recorded to have lived 188 years! They are only found in Madagascar, and they only grow up to like 35 pounds.
~ Biggest Freshwater Fish: In May 2005 these guys in Thailand caught a Giant Mekong Catfish that was 9 feet long and wieghed 646 pounds! This fish is 5 times bigger than the world record holder before him! I think Catfish are gross.
~ The Strongest Creature: The Rhinoceros Beetle can carry 850 times its own weight. A human body builder can only lift up to 17 times their own weight.
~ The Largest Land Carnivore: I love this one, not because it is bizarre, but because I think they are really cool. Polar Bears are the largest and one of the strongest, carnivores out there. Their hair is actually clear and they look white or yellowish because of the way the clear hair reflects the light. They even have paws that are huge and rounded to make walking on snow a little bit easier, like built-in snowshoes. Kodiak bear holds a close second place to the Polar Bear. I know this video is a little gross because of the blood, but check out the pure strength this guy has, it is crazy!
You read it. .............................You cannot unread it!
~ Charles.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Being an Example
In 1st Timothy chapter four, Paul tells Timothy, who was his young protégé?, if you would, he?s going to succeed him in the ministry he is a young evangelist, he is going out preaching and teaching. Verse twelve tells Timothy, ?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. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.?
I want you to know, that when it comes to being an example, age does not matter. Age does not matter! You can be a great example. I look you and I know this is true, because you are an example to me. Because you are not afraid to believe in God and live in a world that might reject God. And that?s tough within itself. There are few good examples out there in the world in which we live, so we all need to make sure that we are being good examples.
So, in this letter Paul is letting Timothy know that people around him that he will be serving, will have the tendency to look down on him and condescending towards him because he is young, and Paul tells him not to let anyone do this. In other words, ?Even though you are younger than most of the people around you, do not let that make you think that you cannot make a difference.? He wanted to tell Timothy this because he knew that he was going to have to work to gain the respect of people, because he did not the experience that age brings. See, in his culture, and most cultures, if you do not have age, then you didn?t have experience. You would have to earn the respect.
Do the best that you can no matter what it is because you yourself will be an example, people will recognize that, and people are attracted to that. That is what God is calling us all to be - examples.
In Speech: Be like David, he was an optimist, even in tough times he spoke with a good attitude.
~ 1st Samuel 17:45-46, "David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel."
~ 2nd Samuel 12:22, ?He answered, ?While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.'?
In Life: Be like Joshua, he was known for his stance in his life.
Joshua 24:14-15, ?Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
In Love: Be like Esther, her love for her people drove her to do what could have killed her.
Esther 4:16, "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
In Faith: Be like Peter, he always took the initiative to do something for Jesus.
John 18:10, "Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear."
Matthew 14:25-28 ?During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ?It's a ghost,? they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ?Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.? ?Lord, if it's you,? Peter replied, ?tell me to come to you on the water.??
In Purity: Be like Joseph, he lived his entire life in a state of purity.
"So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he refused."
We are called to be examples, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.
~ Charles.
I want you to know, that when it comes to being an example, age does not matter. Age does not matter! You can be a great example. I look you and I know this is true, because you are an example to me. Because you are not afraid to believe in God and live in a world that might reject God. And that?s tough within itself. There are few good examples out there in the world in which we live, so we all need to make sure that we are being good examples.
So, in this letter Paul is letting Timothy know that people around him that he will be serving, will have the tendency to look down on him and condescending towards him because he is young, and Paul tells him not to let anyone do this. In other words, ?Even though you are younger than most of the people around you, do not let that make you think that you cannot make a difference.? He wanted to tell Timothy this because he knew that he was going to have to work to gain the respect of people, because he did not the experience that age brings. See, in his culture, and most cultures, if you do not have age, then you didn?t have experience. You would have to earn the respect.
Do the best that you can no matter what it is because you yourself will be an example, people will recognize that, and people are attracted to that. That is what God is calling us all to be - examples.
In Speech: Be like David, he was an optimist, even in tough times he spoke with a good attitude.
~ 1st Samuel 17:45-46, "David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel."
~ 2nd Samuel 12:22, ?He answered, ?While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.'?
In Life: Be like Joshua, he was known for his stance in his life.
Joshua 24:14-15, ?Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
In Love: Be like Esther, her love for her people drove her to do what could have killed her.
Esther 4:16, "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
In Faith: Be like Peter, he always took the initiative to do something for Jesus.
John 18:10, "Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear."
Matthew 14:25-28 ?During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ?It's a ghost,? they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ?Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.? ?Lord, if it's you,? Peter replied, ?tell me to come to you on the water.??
In Purity: Be like Joseph, he lived his entire life in a state of purity.
"So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he refused."
We are called to be examples, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.
~ Charles.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Summer is Almost Over!!
Well it is that time of year again, where you cannot go anywhere without seeing back to school supplies and be reminded that your freedom is almost to an end. No more pool parties (not that I was invited anyway), no more sleeping in, no more goofing off all day, just back to the grind of getting through another year of school. Look, I know your sad but let me re-cap some awesome things that happened this summer. I'll start in May, which I know is not "Summer," but deal with it OK?
~ May 2nd, Iron-Man came out! One of the best Marvel movies yet!
~ May 16th, Movie night at the church, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
~ May 17th, Prince Caspian!!!!! Where Josh even dressed up and brought a cute little sword.
~ May 19th-18th, I got a two day FREE retreat in North Carolina!!!
~ May 31st, VBS Training, where got to have some fun getting ready for VBS Power Lab
~ June 8th, Open House at Indian Lake
~ June 13th, The Incredible Hulk came out!
~ June 24th, WE HEADED TO CREATION MUSIC FESTIVAL! :)
~ June 29th, We came home from Creation Music Festival. :(
~ July 1st, I headed to Cincinnati, Ohio for the North American Christian Convention where Josh Bueno was going to be recognized as one of three Student Leader in Christian Service (he was not aloud to bring the pants).
~ July 2nd, The Bueno family headed to Cincinnati and Josh was recognized that evening and the next morning.
~ July 4th, FORTH OF JULY! (duh!)
~ July 9th, Ironbirds game and my 3 year anniversary.
~ July 14th-18th, VBS Power Lab! Where 64 kids were blessed throughout the week, and they raised over $700 for Indian Lake's Amphitheater
~ July 18th, Batman: The Dark Night came out! Oh man, was that good or what?
~ July 20th-26th, Two students who have shown the potential to be great leaders were choosen to go to The Big Picture Conference at Milligan College in Tennessee. Right near Bristol and I didn't even get to see a NASCAR race.
~ July 20th-26th, Was also the first Jr High week at Indian Lake, with Mike Russell as the Dean.
~ August 3rd-9th, Was the second Jr High week at Indian Lake, with Tony Libatore as the dean.
~ August 10th-16th, Was the second week of Sr High at Indian Lake, with me as the dean.
~ August 22nd, Will be a movie night at the church, Nim's Island
~ August 31st, This will be a Youth Sunday
~ September 1st, Labor Day, NO SCHOOL (even though you only started like the week before).
~ September 4th, This will be a Rock Party
~ September 7th, Will be the first night of Rock being on Sunday night instead of Thursday night.
~ Septmber 10th, Will be the first Jr High Small Group
~ September 11th, Will be the first Sr High Small Group
Officially Fall - September 22nd
Alright, beleive me when I say I understand you may not want school to start back up again, but look at that list from the summer. That doesn't even count other things you may have been doing. That's awesome. That's pretty busy right there, I know after this Summer I need a vacation and am taking a half a week next week to just relax with my family and my wife. We are going to Busch Gardens and Water Country USA, and are just going to relax and have fun.
While you are getting ready to go back to school take note of the wisest wise guy ever in the history of the world, Solomon. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" Sumer is the time to have lots of fun, sleep in do all kinds of crazy stuff, but when school starts it is time to get in there and learn the most you possibly can. Get the most out of your time in school because even though it may seem like it now, you will not be in school forever, and you may wish you had paid a little more attention to different things.
Enjoy this new season, and get the most out of.
~ Charles.
~ May 2nd, Iron-Man came out! One of the best Marvel movies yet!
~ May 16th, Movie night at the church, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
~ May 17th, Prince Caspian!!!!! Where Josh even dressed up and brought a cute little sword.
~ May 19th-18th, I got a two day FREE retreat in North Carolina!!!
~ May 31st, VBS Training, where got to have some fun getting ready for VBS Power Lab
~ June 8th, Open House at Indian Lake
Officially Summer - June 20th
~ June 21st, Church yard sale, where we all got cool stuff and Josh bought . . . . the pants!~ June 13th, The Incredible Hulk came out!
~ June 24th, WE HEADED TO CREATION MUSIC FESTIVAL! :)
~ June 29th, We came home from Creation Music Festival. :(
~ July 1st, I headed to Cincinnati, Ohio for the North American Christian Convention where Josh Bueno was going to be recognized as one of three Student Leader in Christian Service (he was not aloud to bring the pants).
~ July 2nd, The Bueno family headed to Cincinnati and Josh was recognized that evening and the next morning.
~ July 4th, FORTH OF JULY! (duh!)
~ July 9th, Ironbirds game and my 3 year anniversary.
~ July 14th-18th, VBS Power Lab! Where 64 kids were blessed throughout the week, and they raised over $700 for Indian Lake's Amphitheater
~ July 18th, Batman: The Dark Night came out! Oh man, was that good or what?
~ July 20th-26th, Two students who have shown the potential to be great leaders were choosen to go to The Big Picture Conference at Milligan College in Tennessee. Right near Bristol and I didn't even get to see a NASCAR race.
~ July 20th-26th, Was also the first Jr High week at Indian Lake, with Mike Russell as the Dean.
~ August 3rd-9th, Was the second Jr High week at Indian Lake, with Tony Libatore as the dean.
~ August 10th-16th, Was the second week of Sr High at Indian Lake, with me as the dean.
~ August 22nd, Will be a movie night at the church, Nim's Island
~ August 31st, This will be a Youth Sunday
~ September 1st, Labor Day, NO SCHOOL (even though you only started like the week before).
~ September 4th, This will be a Rock Party
~ September 7th, Will be the first night of Rock being on Sunday night instead of Thursday night.
~ Septmber 10th, Will be the first Jr High Small Group
~ September 11th, Will be the first Sr High Small Group
Officially Fall - September 22nd
Alright, beleive me when I say I understand you may not want school to start back up again, but look at that list from the summer. That doesn't even count other things you may have been doing. That's awesome. That's pretty busy right there, I know after this Summer I need a vacation and am taking a half a week next week to just relax with my family and my wife. We are going to Busch Gardens and Water Country USA, and are just going to relax and have fun.
While you are getting ready to go back to school take note of the wisest wise guy ever in the history of the world, Solomon. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" Sumer is the time to have lots of fun, sleep in do all kinds of crazy stuff, but when school starts it is time to get in there and learn the most you possibly can. Get the most out of your time in school because even though it may seem like it now, you will not be in school forever, and you may wish you had paid a little more attention to different things.
Enjoy this new season, and get the most out of.
~ Charles.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
2008: A Year of Working Together
If you are on this page you probably already know that the lock-in sort of had a theme of working together (although it was not well received). That will be a big theme for this year: working together.
On several occasions Paul writes to the early churches that they need to work on getting it together with each other. Paul writes that we are the body of Christ and a body is made up of many parts. The eye cannot turn to the leg and say, "Hey leg, we don't need you, take a hike!!" And the foot cannot say, "Hey you stupid tongue get outta here, we don't need your kind around here!!" We've got to figure a way to get it together with each other you know?
To loosely quote my favorite musician, Dave Matthews, "Because we can't figure things out if we just turn our backs on each other. You know?
You're and idiot!
No, you're an idiot!
No, you're an idiot!
No, you're an idiot!
No, you're an idiot!
And that crap goes on for a long, long time!"
Last year BCC took some big steps to reach out to the youth of Essex and was able to create a core group of teens (that's you). Well this year I want to take that core (you again) and I want to push you further and further into spiritual maturity. Part of that means that we really need to focus on this whole idea of working together. Because I have news for you, we are part of the church and the church's mission is to reach out to the unsaved. So if we cannot work together in doing that, than we will not be doing our part in fulfilling the work of the church.
~ Charles.
On several occasions Paul writes to the early churches that they need to work on getting it together with each other. Paul writes that we are the body of Christ and a body is made up of many parts. The eye cannot turn to the leg and say, "Hey leg, we don't need you, take a hike!!" And the foot cannot say, "Hey you stupid tongue get outta here, we don't need your kind around here!!" We've got to figure a way to get it together with each other you know?
To loosely quote my favorite musician, Dave Matthews, "Because we can't figure things out if we just turn our backs on each other. You know?
You're and idiot!
No, you're an idiot!
No, you're an idiot!
No, you're an idiot!
No, you're an idiot!
And that crap goes on for a long, long time!"
Last year BCC took some big steps to reach out to the youth of Essex and was able to create a core group of teens (that's you). Well this year I want to take that core (you again) and I want to push you further and further into spiritual maturity. Part of that means that we really need to focus on this whole idea of working together. Because I have news for you, we are part of the church and the church's mission is to reach out to the unsaved. So if we cannot work together in doing that, than we will not be doing our part in fulfilling the work of the church.
~ Charles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
