Nov. Club Updates

Turkey bowling anyone?? The club before Thanksgiving we did out traditional turkey bowling club. I don't really know how long they have been turkey bowling at this particular YL club, but I told everyone it was the 67th annual turkey bowling YL. As the kids were arriving at club, Cody began to drill 3 holes in each turkey so that the turkeys were as much like bowling balls as possible. Although most just threw the turkey down the "lane" instead of actually bowling it, it was still funny to watch. I was proud of our group that night as most all of the kids attempted to turkey bowl at least one time. I personally really love turkey bowling because it is one of those fun & crazy things that you don't normally do every Thanksgiving. I hope that it will be something that the kids will look back at & remember as a really fun night at YL.

Last nights' club was not as anticipated as our turkey bowling club, but it was still a great night. Our team found it hard to come up with ideas for club last night as many times when it nears the end of a semester we become fresh out of funny & crazy things to do - thankfully we still had a few things up our sleeves that worked out great.

Cody came out in the middle of club last night dressed as Bitter Buddy Elf. Bitter Buddy Elf was mad because everyone is getting all their toys on eBay this year, so Santa had to fire some elves because their wasn't enough work to do in the North Pole. Bitter Buddy came out to encourage everyone to come out to club next week & to start narrowing down contestants for our Mr. Christmas Tree contest. He led them in 2 different games, one of them was called e-bay guessing. We found the most random things you can find on eBay (like someones home made road kill stew - this was really on eBay!) and the contestants had to guess if the price we had on the screen was higher or lower & then they would guess the exact price - it was pretty funny as almost the whole crowd got into the game.

During our last part of club I got to stand up & talk to our friends about Jesus, who knows us intimately, but loves us deeply. I know we talk a lot about this, but I believe you can never hear this truth too much. I started out my talk with a clip from the movie "Hitch." This movie is basically all about guys hiring Will Smith to try & make them "look good" in front of girls so they can get a date. I then talked about all the things we do to get to know someone when we really like them. We will go to great lengths to know all the details of his or her lives just so they might like us, or just so they might give us a chance. What a relief that we don't have to do with Jesus!

I then began to talk about the encounter that Jesus had with the woman at the well from John 4. Jesus knew everything about this lady - the good, the bad, & the ugly, yet her loved her & offered her life. Her offered her life & love without this lady having to do anything. She didn't have to try & impress Jesus with her good looks or fancy cars, she didn't have to fake it at all - Jesus already knew everything, yet loved her.

I ended talking with simply telling our kids how thankful I am that I don't have to impress Jesus everyday. I am so thankful that I have a relationship with someone who knows every step I have taken & every step I will ever take & loves me deeply. I pray that kids will accept the one who knows us to the bone & loves us even more.

Recently one of my friends graduated from High School & I am so proud of her. Here is a picture of all of us at the graduation celebration - I know she can do great things!

Club Update

We had another great club this weekwith many of our regular kids & some new faces in the mix. This week Cody had a basketball game a couple hours before club was supposed to start so I was not sure he would be able to make it, but he ended up showing up about fifteen minutes before we started. It was a little crazy with not much time to plan & run through club with all our leaders, but God is good & most things went off without a hitch.

Of course, we played some crazy games & had many kids laughing. We played a game where kids have to shoot cheerios out their nose & their partners have to catch it in a bucket that hung around their neck (there were bonus points if you caught it in your mouth). Apparently this game really grossed out a lot of folks & Cody & I were the only couple who ended up actually playing the game. I realize this game is gross, but out of all the things we do in Young Life it's funny to me that some kids called this game "the grossest." After that game, we played a few more crazy games & then four of my senior girls & I did a skit. We hadn't really practiced this too much, but it turned out to be funny. I am thankful that there was lots of laughter on at club & I pray that God used this to break down walls into what's really going on with kids.

At the end of the night Dan, one of our volunteer leaders, gave a talk about Jesus over coming death. He followed up on the cross talk I gave last week & told the story of Thomas seeing Jesus after he had risen from the dead. John 20:27 says, "Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand & put it into my side. Stop doubting & believe." He talked about that verse with our high school friends & how Jesus rising from the dead is true & is as real to us now as it was to Thomas & his disciples many, many years ago. I pray that the kids who heard this message will stop letting all the little doubts that get into their heads & that other folks put in their heads & simply believe in the risen Christ.


A couple of things to pray for this week: we have our annual banquet coming up Monday! Pray that we will raise a good portion of our budget (if not ALL of our budget :), that people will get a clear picture of all the things that God is doing in the lives of junior high & high school kids in our city & for everything to go smoothly on that night.

Also, last week in his YMCA basketball game Cody tore a couple of ligaments in his ankle. Pray for continued healing for him.

This was Cody pre-injury

This is Cody after a doc's appointment, he now has a lovely black boot to wear for the next couple of months.