HSM Christmas Party

All high school youth (grades 9-12) are invited to the annual HSM Christmas Party & “White Elephant” Gift Exchange on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 from 5:00-7:30 PM in the Youth Room (121). Come enjoy food, games, and a movie. There is no cost for this party, but please be sure to bring a wrapped “white elephant” gift (a cheap, or no cost, funny gag gift). Invite your friends as well and join us for a festive, fun time! Sign up on the sheet located in the Youth Room. For more information contact Andy Muich (andy@gslcva.org).

Breaking the Invisible Barrier

Have you ever been in a situation where suddenly your assumptions or thoughts about a specific person or thing were pretty much blown right off the map? Maybe it was the moment you realized the little test you were “prepared” for was really an overwhelming obstacle you had no chance of conquering. Or the moment you realized that the cute girl who sits in front of you in Chemistry really does like you... a lot! Or how about the moment you realized your team was completely over-matched  Or... well, you get the point. There are moments of clarity where what you thought was the case may not necessarily be the case at all.

Do you remember the shepherds in the nativity (the Birth of Jesus) story? The ones out in fields, keeping watch “o’er their flock”, minding their own business? If you don’t, maybe this will jog your memory:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)

Those shepherds experienced one of those moments in a big, big way. It’s safe to say that the shepherds knew God. Or they knew of Him as well as they could. They were Israelites. Their people had a rich history with God. They were, after all, God’s people. But, everything they thought they knew about God and His ways were pretty much overwhelmed that night. All of a sudden, the God who was a little distant and a lot mysterious, was right up in their world. In their faces! Look at the description in verse 9: “the glory of the Lord shone around them.” Can you even imagine? God was no longer an idea, He was real. He had broken the invisible barrier between His Kingdom and this world. And it’s entirely safe to say the world was never the same. Isn’t that a pretty good way to think about the Christmas story in general? Isn’t it really as simple as God breaking the barrier and coming into our world? It is that simple. Yet, the power behind this simple truth is life changing. You are who you are today because God chose to send His Son into this world.

Blessed Advent and merry Christmas!

The Great Pumpkin Hunt

It’s back! All Sr. High Youth and their friends are invited to join us for the 4^th Annual Great Pumpkin Hunt. This year’s hunt will be on Saturday, October 27 from 7:00-9:00 PM at GSLC. Come out and search for tons of hidden pumpkins, win sweet prizes, eat loads of candy, and enjoy some fantastic fall fun! There is no cost for this event but be sure to bring a flashlight, a jacket, night vision goggles (optional... but awesome), and a friend... or two... or three... For more information contact Andy Muich (andy@gslcva.org).

The Curveball

So last month in my devo I complained about the summer heat. I suppose that was wrong of me, after all, summer is supposed to be hot. The heat is just a part of it, a sign of the season. And if high temperatures are fixture of summer, there are many others as well: no school, popsicles, block-parties, fireworks, vacations, and my favorite... baseball! I love baseball. I love going to stadiums and watching teams play on TV. I watch games every chance I get. And although I cannot possibly see every game... there is one game I never miss... the All-Star Game. Did you catch the last one? It happened several weeks back and once again the National League emerged victorious (they’re just now making up for all those losses to the American League). For a baseball fan, it doesn’t get any better than the All-Star Game... the game’s greatest players all in one place, showcasing their incredible skills. And as much as love the “sluggers” going up to bat and knocking ‘em out of the park, I enjoy, just as much, watching the pitchers. I really admire them and their ability to throw a ball with such precision. Fastballs, sinkers, sliders, and of course, the curveball. Many an “All-Star” have succumb to that nasty pitch. So, what’s the point of the curveball? Pitchers use this pitch to confuse the hitter, to get them to chase after something, and to ultimately strike them out. I think that’s a great metaphor for what the enemy, Satan, does to us. The curveball is thrown, we’re deceived, caught off guard, and it’s over. We’ve struck out.

When the enemy throws us a curveball we can try our hardest to make it work. Fake ourselves out. Pray. Seek advice. But the pitches that were once “straight-down-the-middle-of-the-plate” fastballs turn into something fierce and we’re left swinging away. You know what I mean by curveballs, right? Those things that happen in life that seem to come out of nowhere; break-ups, failures, mistakes, tragedies, health scares, things that make it seem like it’s all over. Yet, sometimes a new beginning is disguised as a curveball because the outcome of the game belongs to God. Times of failure don’t catch God off guard. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He doesn’t panic or worry. He doesn’t give up or throw in the towel... all things that we are inclined to do from time to time. As cliché and Sunday-School-ish as this sounds, it’s true... with God on our team, we can’t possibly lose the game! Like Paul says in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, than who can be against us?” If God is on our side, what possibly could stop Him from coming through? Even when we strike out, we’re not out of the game... for nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). Happy August!

2012 Workcamp Photos

Hey! Just wanted to let you know that pics from the 2012 Workcamp are up on Facebook. Check 'em out here. - Andy