Ya, basically the best picture ever...enough said!

Wednesday's "What's God been teaching me?" #9

In ISCF this week, a teacher at my school led our group in a Bible study on the passage in Mark 4:35-41. It was a great study and God really spoke to me through it. Just so you know what’s going on, I’ll let you read these couple verses:

³⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" ³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. ⁴⁰He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" ⁴¹They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

One of the discussion questions was this:

What do you do when “storms” come up in your life?

1. turn to a person I can trust
2. turn to God
3. act like nothing is wrong
4. get touchy and irritable
5. take charge of things
6. panic

I’d never really thought about this before! I came to the conclusion that when a “storm” comes up in my life, I usually begin by panicking, then I try and take charge of things, then I make a mess, become touchy and irritable, and end up hurting others. After all this I turn to God and ask for help to bail me out and heal the hurt I’ve caused. Wow, what a revelation!

A girl in our group named Kallie shared what she does when a “storm” comes in to her life. She says she goes to her room, shuts the door, and cries her face off for a good 10 minutes. After that she picks up the Bible and reads through some Psalms. David’s ability to praise God through whatever “storms” he encounters comforts her and helps her to give her feelings to God. She then prays, talking and listening to God, until she feels ok enough to share with someone she can trust.

I was so impressed hearing how Kallie is able to go straight to God when a “storm” hits and conviction set in heavy for me. I realized that I need to train myself to go immediately to God when I encounter “storms” in my life. By doing so I would save myself the needless panic and I wouldn’t end up making messes and hurting others.

It also dawned on me that the most important aspect of “turning to God” when a “storm” hits is faith. Notice what Jesus says to the disciples after he calms the storm. He says, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Jesus makes it clear that the disciples were afraid because they didn’t have faith that they would be safe in the storm.

I asked myself, “Can I trust God through a storm no matter how bad it seems?” I decided that I need to cultivate a better understanding of God’s faithfulness through His Word. As I see how God has been faithful to the people in the Bible and faithful to me I need to remember that God is the same faithful God even through a “storm”. Then it will be a lot easier for me to run to Him immediately and trust that He has everything in control. Just to make it easier to actually do this I developed a little reminder for myself. I called it the SRS:

Storm Response System

Carefully watch for “storms” When a “storm” hits, go to God: In prayer (Philippians 4:6-7) In faith (Mark 4:35-41)(Psalm 62:8) In truth (Psalm 19:7-8) In submission (Romans 8:6

So far it’s working pretty well! Well that’s what I learned this week. I hope God speaks to you through it! God bless you all!

Love,

Your brother in Christ,

Joshua

haha...sorry, I had to.

(: BLING ME :)

Hello everybody,

Just wanted to inform you all of a bling concert that is taking place in the near future.

What: Bling concert
Music: Instrumental, namely featuring the bass flute, alto flute, c flute, piccolo, and a clarinet (?)
Where: Knox Metropolitan Church (you can use the front doors if you're on time, but they'll be locking the doors when we start our concert because that Church has a bit of a history of getting broken into).
When: This next Sunday
Time: I'm pretty sure it starts at 3pm, but I'll check on that just to make sure.

Okay, so maybe I'm not famous or anything, but I think you should come out and support our group. We'll be wearing bling, and I'm sure we won't mind if you do too :)

P.S. No worries if you can't make it, I'm understanding.

See ya later.

I am Saskatchewanian

Hey.

I'm not a hick, or a hog farmer. And I don't live in a barn or eat mosquitos, or own a John Deere.

And I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Alberta, although I'm certain they're really, really nice.

I have an OUTDOOR STADIUM, NOT a wussy DOME.

I speak of good times with good friends at Rider games and BP's,

NOT the phony's and the yuppies at the "theatre" and HARD ROCK CAFE,

and I pronouce it 'CRAVEN', NOT "Craving".

I go to Tim's for hot chocolate and doughnuts at midnight following whatever,

NOT capuccino or that mocha stuff they call coffee in Vancouver.

I can proudly wear a green and white in my hair and show off green underwear!

I believe in PUSHING YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT,

NOT standing in a line trying to act cool.

SNOW, NOT rain,

AND THE GOPHER IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL.

A sweatershirt with a hood on it is a BUNNY HUG, not a HOODY!

And it doesn't make you part of a gang!

And yes...we like 80's music, but this does not mean we dress that way.

SASKATCHEWAN IS THE FLATEST LANDMASS!

THE ONLY PROVINCE OF ROUGHRIDERS!

MY NAME IS _____! AND I AM FROM SASKATCHEWAN!

this afternoon

hey
im bored and have nothing to do this afternoon. i think that we should plan something. otherwise i will be stuck doing nothing.
see ya
Jordan

Youth Directory

Hey kids,

We (the Care and Prayer Team) were wondering if all y'all would want to provide your birthdates for us. We forgot to put them on the information sheet that was passed around a couple weeks ago. We're looking to get that thing started and finished in the next month or so. If you want to post your birthday, go hard, but if you don't feel comfortable, just give it to me (Kiersten), Aimee, Rachael, Sharilyn or Brittany. And also, if you haven't given us your other info aka Name, Address, Phone Number, e-mail, pleeease get that to one of us ASAP so that we can get this thing rolling. Don't post that info on here, though. because you could acquire some new stalkers if you do so. Thanks, all!!

Hey guys,
Chantelle has Tonsilitis so we were wondering if you could pray for her. She has some medication to take and isn't supposed to go to school tomorrow. Pray that she'll get better soon.
Thanks,
The Reimers

This one's for Dallas

Regina

Hahahaha! I got this emailed to me.

You know you're from Regina when...

1. "Vacation" means going to Saskatoon for the weekend.

2. You measure distance in hours.

3. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.

4. You know several people who have hit deer more than once.

5. You use a down comforter in the summer.

6. Your grandparents drive at 100 km/h through four meters of snow during a blizzard, without flinching.

7. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them.

8. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

9. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled.

10. You know all four seasons: Almost winter, winter, still winter,and construction.

11. You are bundled up in three sweaters, a parka, ski pants, a touque, two pairs of mittens, boots past your knees in 3 feet of snow in a -35 (-8000 with the windchill) blizzard, your eyelashes are frozen together, your nose is running, you can't feel your toes, and you still stop at 7 eleven for a Slurpee on the way home.

12. You actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your friends from Regina.

Hey You!!! (yes, that means YOU!) Movie tonight @ the Danyluks @ 6:30ish. Bring any good movies that you have, or suggest them, and we'll get them...Maybe. so come! yes. that is peer pressure. also bring snacks if you have any, but come anyway if you don't. see you there!

WHATS GOING DOWN TONIGHT?!

Girl Guides are really Elves in Disguise...

Well hello jolly people!
I need your help! Basically I'm getting my hair cut within a week and I'm wondering if I should lop it all off or get a trim? Any ideas? Yeah, just wondering because the last thing I want is to have people look at me and say "dear me what is that thing?" Then I'll have to do the same as Aimee and by a wig (her words not mine) :) Yeah so opinions would be most appreciated...thank you!
(no mullets...eww jibbly jibbly...)
Oh yeah! And once again I encourage all y'all to invite your friends out to tomorrow's Ultimate Showdown, it will truly be a night to remember!
Andrea

NDS - National Defence Squad

Tony Jaa, Chuck Norris, and Mr.T wan't you and your friends at the Ultimate Showdown! You know it!

This is where my parents have been since Sunday. They got back safe and sound last night. They said that the staff at the hotel treated them like Kings and Queens. What a 'posh' hotel! But I happen to like the scenery a bit better, what a view!

Wednesday's "What's God been teaching me?" #8

Well, here it is...all 2,495 words of what God's been teaching me about spiritual warfare. It was too long to clutter the blog with. So you can download it from the link below:

Spiritual Warfare

May the Lord speak to you and bless you through my words,
Your brother in Christ,
Joshua

Cold 'Nuff For Ya?

Ahhhhhhh in sickenly cold times like these... this is a nice reminder... haha enjoy!

CANADIAN TEMPERATURE CONVERSION CHART
All temperatures in Fahrenheit

70 (21 C) - Texans turn on the heat and unpack the thermal underwear.
People in Canada go swimming in the Lakes.

60 (15.6 C) - North Carolinians try to turn on the heat.
People in Canada plant gardens.

50 (10 C) - Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Canada sunbathe.

40 (4.4 C)- Italian and English cars won't start.
People in Canada drive with the windows down.

32 ( 0 C) - Distilled water freezes.
Lake Superior's water gets thicker.

20 (-6 C) - Floridians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, and woolly hats.
People in Canada throw on a flannel shirt.

15 (-9 C)- Philadelphia landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Canada have the last cookout before it gets cold.

0 DEGREES (-17.8 C) - People in Miami all stop moving.
Canadians lick the flagpole.

20 BELOW (-28.9 C) - Californians fly away to Mexico.
People in Canada get out their winter coats.

40 BELOW (-40 C)- Hollywood disintegrates.
The Girl Guides of Canada are selling cookies door to door.

60 BELOW (-51 C) - Polar bears begin to evacuate the Arctic.
Canadian Boy Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets cold enough.

80 BELOW (-62.2 C)- Mt. St. Helen's freezes.
People in Canada rent some videos.

100 BELOW (-73.3 C) - Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Canadians get frustrated because they can't thaw the keg.

297 BELOW (-182.8 C) - Microbial life no longer survives on dairy products.
Cows in Canada complain about farmers with cold hands.

460 BELOW (-273.3 C)- ALL atomic motion stops (absolute zero on the Kalvin scale).
People in Canada start saying, "Cold 'nuff for ya?"

500 BELOW - @!#$ freezes over.
The Americans win a gold medal in hockey

Just a thought

Hey guys I was just thinking today about how amazing it is what God has been doing in our youth group! Honestly it's so encouraging to see how evident God's work is in our youth program. It has definately come a very long way since i was in grade 9. It's cool seeing how people are becomming drawn closer and closer to God and want and long to do his will. I am so encouraged see you young guys rising up and becomming leaders! It is so good knowing that when things are going bad there is a whole group to support you and help you through. I love how everyone is so crazy but yet there is also a serious side which is so comforting to go to for support. I just wanna thank you guys for being there for me, because i appretiate you guys so much and don't know where i would be if i didn't have your guys support. Please keep praying for me, that i would be able to minister to the people around me that have such hard hearts, and for whats going on for next year, as well as business and grad comming up. That sermon today was really encouraging, knowing that i shouldn't give up on my friends even if their hearts are very hard and closed to the gospel. God Bless.
Your Brother in Christ,
Lyndon

Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58

SNOWBALL

Alrighty, for those of you who check this everyday you'll get this in time. For those of you who don't, like me, I'm sooo sorry. Anyways I was thinking that it was super nice outside and that it was the perfect day for a snowball fight so therefore I figured that we should all have some fun taking our agressions out on each other. It should be a jolly good time. As far as details go... I've got nothing at the moment other then my house 30 Scrivener Cres. At some point and time today. I'll comment later on it. Hope you all can make it. Toodles

Disco Disco Disco

Hey, all you disco-lovers, CBC (96.9 fm) radio is playing disco tunes right now...tune in for some grooviness! Just wanted to share the bliss of disco with y'all.

orange is the new pink

so i've found possibly THE best shoes on the face of the earth. batman and converse combined equals extreme amazingness. i like to call this creation "batverse". it's basically the best invention known to man. just thought i'd share that.

Couch Me If You Can was awsome I hope!

and yes Chris is milking it. ewww...

Anyways I hope that you enjoyed the event this friday and I am just posting that it would be amazing if we had 5 new people at youth this next friday for the ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN!

Just a quick glimpse of our Film. So make sure you are there!

oh. man.

so guys, guess who's birthday it is today???

CHUCK NORRIS'!!

ya, he's 60 . . . I just thought that was funny . . . I didn't know he actually existed.

The Adventures of Aimshki and Braidster

Ya, we were so boring that we became black and white....really!

Look Bradie and I are a mosaic!!! Kweet!!!

Wow, creepy huh? I don't think I like this one!!!

Wow, we're glowing!!! This is at school by the way, in the cooking room. It's kind of like we were at glow bowling hey? I love it!

The First Mouse on Mars . . .

Haha, this picture made me laugh. Maybe it did the same for you. I thought it was quite clever. Yeah, that's all I've got. I'm kinda tired. Haha, how can you tell? Maybe when you start typing to yourself! Okay . . . Good night :)

Couch Me If You Can

This is going to bee an amazing event. This Friday bring a friend and warm clothing depending on the weather. It will be almost as good as next week, which is the Ultimate Showdown!

MAKE SURE YOU AT LEAST TRY TO INVITE SOMEONE!

(this is supposed to be a gross couch colour)

leprechans are over-rated.

so i decided to post this picture because it slightly looks like ross on a sick day...and slightly older...and slightly with a towel over his head...slightly.

money savers

so all you guys who went to chuck e cheese on friday . . .


you know that ball that you got, it was supposed to be sold for $17.99, not $10.49!!! yeah, i was talking to my friend today who works there and she said that nobody who was working knew the actual price, so you all got a deal on that!! oh, by the way, she was complaining today that her arms still hurt from having to pump up part of the ball :)

His love endures forever!

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.

11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea ^[a] asunder
His love endures forever.

14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the desert,
His love endures forever.

17 who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.

21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

22 an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His love endures forever.

23 to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

24 and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.

25 and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Well, in conclusion, just in case you didn't catch that, God's love endures forever. Forever, as in for everlasting time, eternally; at all times, incessantly. God's love never fails, it's always there. His love is forever and he wants us to have a love that is patient, a love is kind, a love that does not envy, a love that does not boast, a love that is not proud, a love that is not rude, a love that is not self seeking, a love that is not easily angered, a love that keeps no record of wrongs, a love that does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. A love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perservers and a love that never fails. God is love and His love endures forever. Let God's love shine through you!

Just Ambassadors

If you guys didn't know, Ross, Bobby and I have called our band "Just Ambassadors" Please check us out on purevolume or myspace. So far myspace is the only one with our first song.

http://www.myspace.com/justambassadors

http://www.purevolume.com/justambassadors

Funny Story

on the way home from church this morning/afternoon, i was driving on the ring road. the van in front of me was going slower than i wanted to be going so i pulled into the left lane to pass him. while i was passing him i looked over at him. i had to look twice. he was wearing a gas mask. who wears a gas mask driving. his vehicle must really stink. tee hee
Jordan

Happy 1st Birthday Hillsdale Youth Blog!!!

yay! we've now been in the running for 1 year. pat yourselves on the back and eat some cake!

Tonight

hey
so here are some details about tonight. i was thinking about a movie at about 6:30 or 7. but when i got home last night my brother had some leftover hotdogs and buns from his party. so we could do a weiner roast before we watch a movie. (any suggestions for a movie?) and im wondering if we still want to meet somewhere in town and you everyone can just follow me out to my place. then hopefully no one will get lost. let me know what you prefer and a time that you think this should all happen at.
Jordan

Saturday Night

Just wondering what the final decision was for what we are dont saturday night?
JT's house or what?

Wednesday's "What's God been teaching me?" #7

Wow this last week has been a crazy week! I've had so much to do and so little time to do it! This week I found myself revisiting spiritual lessons I thought I'd already learned. Ephesians 6:14 talks about standing firm, and it seemed like no matter how hard I tried, I fell. I couldn't stand firm this week until I finally realized why.
Surprisingly, the answer to my weak knees popped into my head as I was walking between classes on Monday. It sure amazes me how the Holy Spirit can drop you a line when you least expect it! I spent the rest of the day probing and digging into this insight with all my strength. By the end of the day I realized that this was my problem.
As I searched my Bible with my concordance at my side, it hit me. I am not a strong Christian. I have no strength of my own. In fact, the difference between me and those who seem weak in their walk has nothing to do with my strength. This week, I realized that I am as weak in my walk as everyone else. I can pretend to be strong, but I can't stand at the same time.
I found myself asking, "Lord, how do I stand firm? How can I have a steadfast relationship with You?" And the Lord gave me the answer. He said, "To have true strength is to weaken one's self to a complete reliance on God's power." The day before this wonderful revelation, Rod Masterson delivered a powerful message about boasting in our weaknesses. From 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, he explained how Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" or weakness that he asked God to take away from him. The Lord's response to Paul, in verse 9 was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Though Paul pleaded with God to take his thorn away, God left him with his weakness, so that Paul would have to rely on God for his strength.
Many people today try to live life in their own strength. Many think that they are strong, unshakable, and invincible. However, all of us will be defeated and put to shame by the evil one - because he is stronger and more powerful than us - if we rely on our own strength. In 1 John 4:4, it says that, "you, dear children have overcome them..." Why? Not because you are strong, not because you are mighty, but "because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." I learned it first hand this week that trying to stand firm against the evil one in my own strength is utterly impossible.
This week, I learned that the power to overcome evil comes from the One who is in me. I learned that my source of strength is Jesus Christ. I discovered that to stand firm, I must stand on the solid rock of Christ. I learned that true strength is another part of the upside down Kingdom of God.
It seems like everything is backwards in our faith. To be first, I must be last. To become great, I must be servant of all. To be exalted, I must humble myself. To be free, I must surrender. And from this week... To be strong in the Lord, I must be weak in my self.
In Romans Paul talks a lot about living by the Spirit and not by the flesh. He talks about how we must put to death the misdeeds of the body by the Spirit. Similarly, to let God be our strength we must put to death our own strength, and become weak. Because, it is in our weakness that God's power is made perfect in us.
In Ezekiel 34:16, God says, "I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy." So not only will we be opposed by Satan when we live in our own strength, but we will be opposed by God too. He will tear us down until we realize that we can't live in our own strength, and must rely on Him for our strength.
This last week, I was torn down to a realization of my weakness and an acknowledgment of God's strength. As I searched the Scriptures I came across an interesting pattern in the character of David. David has a reputation of a mighty warrior. As the song goes, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." As a young boy David killed lions, bears, and even the giant Philistine warrior, Goliath. If anyone could be considered a mighty warrior or a strong man, it was king David.
1 Samuel 30:1-6 describes a military victory led by king David against the Amalekites. However, it didn't start off as a victory. While on the way back from an encounter with the Philistines, the Amalekites raided the Negev and Ziklag taking the wives and children of David and his army captive. Among the captured women and children were David's two wives. When David and his army found their wives and children gone they "wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep." (4) Verse 6 shows the response of David and his men to this trial: "David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God." David then pursues the Amalekites, destroys them, and rescues the women and children. The important part however, is that "David found strength in the Lord his God."
In fact David makes it clear that his source of strength was God throughout the old testament and the psalms. 1 Samuel 23:16 talks about how Jonathan helped David find strength in God. In 1 Chronicles 16, David commits a psalm of thanks to God in which he says, "Look to the Lord and His strength..." Psalm 18: "I love you, O Lord, my strength...It is God who arms me with strength." Psalm 28: "The Lord is my strength...The Lord is the strength of His people." Psalm 59:9: "O my Strength, I watch for You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." Littered throughout the psalms are David's references to the source of his strength. The mighty king David found his strength in the Lord God.
This week I discovered that God needs to be the source of my strength. His strength is far greater than my own. I learned that in everything we need to be constantly asking ourselves, "Am I relying on my own strength or God's strength?"
This week I choose to live in weakness and to rely on God's strength so that Christ's power will be made perfect in my weakness and He will help me to stand firm.

Ultimate Showdown

This is thank you to the Friday night event planning team! Thanks for spending time to make our secret project possible! Thank you Kiersten for the Video Camera.

This youth event will be sweet and make sure you invite some friends!

Invite

You should send Scott an invitation!

I'm going to regret showing these...

Yeah this is Jen and I ... don't ask about the faces we're capable of making... haha...
Two words.... happy whale... yeah again don't ask...
Hahaha! So the four of us made a whack of poses and this was the "preppy pose" although I don't think you'd want to meet "prep" in the top left corner in a dark alley.... haha (I mean it all in the love of course!)

Like always I have no pride yet feel compelled to add some pictures to the blog to give people all the more reason to laugh at me...oh well... ENJOY!