Q & A Time!

Hey BSBC Youth --

Here are a couple questions that popped into the purple box in the youth room. Thanks for putting the questions in, whoever you are!! We always appreciate teens taking the time to write down questions for us to help answer. Keep those questions coming! We'll answer these in a couple of weeks at Youth Night, but I wanted to give you all a chance to weigh in first, so leave a comment with your thoughts. Remember, since God's Word is truth, it's important to find the answers in it -- so include Bible references in your answer!

Here they are:

1. I found out yesterday that one of my best friends drinks sometimes. Only when she's really sad, but it still bugs me. I'm scared for her, but more scared for me, because I'm easily persuaded by her. What should I do to help here, and still keep away from her ideas?
2. If God wants us to be happy and healthy, then why does He allow painful things into our lives?

- Clint

Time to Shine

It seems that our overnighter last Friday was a success. We had 16 teens out (the most for any event this summer), and everyone had a great time. God answered our prayers to hold off the rain while we were at Rinky Dink, and the teens and leaders about drove the tires off those go-karts (the brakes were not tired at all!). Many in the group also enjoyed putt-putt, batting cages, and DDR.

Back at the Kozy's, we unveiled Glow Ultimate Frisbee and everyone enjoyed it (except for Ty's nose ... sorry!). There was also much jumping, wrestling, and laughing in the pool, and the night was capped off by a Mafia marathon.

"Shine" has been a recurring theme this summer -- mainly at Camp Patmos, but also at our Firestone Park outreach and after Glow Ultimate. God wants us to be His light in this world. Just like we looked for the light to know where to throw the frisbee, some people lost in the darkness of sin will look for the light to escape the darkness.

Here are a couple verses that encourage us to keep shining for Christ. Have a great day! ... Clint

Matthew 5:14, 16 -- You are the light of the world ... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.

Philippians 2:15-16 -- So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of life.

Witnessing

While spending the night at Emily's, we watched the movie "Left Behind". That's a Tribulation movie that really makes me anxious for the Rapture, more so than usual. Although, I think it would be cool to be on Earth while all of God's prophecies come true, like the rebuilding of Soloman's temple, peace, the rise of the Anti-Christ. Don't get me wrong, I am very glad I won't be experiencing the Tribulation.
It also makes you want to witness. I really realized how stuck up I can be sometimes in the fact that I feel too shy to witness. Those people out there need me to lead them to Christ and I won't do it because I am afraid? I mean, of course the world will laugh at me and try and tear me down mentally, but why should that phase me? I have the Creator, the Father, my Father, behind me 1000%. He is pleased with those who witness. It is a commandment and I need to fulfill it. I need not to be ashamed (Romans 1:16).
As a youth group, we have gone out many times to witness to non-believers. During that time, I feel really pumped up and excited to share the Gospel. But when it comes down to witnessing by myself, I am not as pumped up and excited. I am scared, nervous, and shy. Many times a great opportunity has dropped right on my lap and I let it slip away. I have to realize that I am not always going to have fellow Christians around to help me and "motivate" me to reach out. I need to be prepared. Everything I need I am able to access in the Bible. God has prepared everything (Heb. 11:3)
Another part of witnessing I myself need to work on is living for Him through my actions. I want people to look at me and say "Hey, she's different. No matter what the circumstance, she always seems to have peace. She is a good person who obviously is confident about her life." That is another great way to draw people to Christ. If they see you as a person worth exemplifying, they will want to be like you. They will be attracted to you and your lifestyle. If you try and witness to somebody and they remember the language you use, your gestures, actions, and emotions that are not attractive, why would they want to be like that? They will think that God is just an inconvenience and a bother. That He makes you into some depressed person. But that's not true and they need to see and realize how exciting it is to be a child of God.
As my Dad tells me, witnessing should become habit. A good habit. We should pray to God saying that we are available. That He would bring the perfect opportunity into our life that we may witness. I mean, we shouldn't be like "Oh, who should I witness to today?" and then draw somebody's name from a hat. No. God will bring us the opportunity to witness in His perfect timing. And with that, we should all be ready to witness with courage, confidence, and God right next to us.

-Elizabeth

Camp Testimonies -- Let's Hear 'Em!

I know it's been a couple weeks since the senior high went to Patmos, but I thought it would be encouraging to have everyone to share their testimony on the blogspot. A number of you did this in Sunday School, but there were a few who weren't there. So, senior high campers, please put a comment on this post sharing your camp experience -- what you learned, what you decided, what was funny.

Jr High campers, you'll have your chance soon!


Clint

I'm Nothin'

"I am nothing without You". Kind of sounds like some lyrics to a love song, doesn't it? It is. The song "Nothing Without You" sung by Bebo Norman really touched me while listening to it. The whole song tells about how we, humans, are nothing without God. I never really meditated on the lyrics before now. As I let them sink in I realized how true this actually is! Without God, we wouldn't even be in exsistance, not even a poof of an ash. Tonight in youth group, we went upstairs for prayer meeting. Mr. Blasdel taught about humbleness. In the beginning of this song, it talks just about that. How we can't even praise God to all that he is worthy of.
So, here are the powerful lyrics to this song.

Take these hands and lift them up

For I have not the strength to praise You near enough

For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

Take my voice and pour it out

Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found

For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

Chorus:

All my soul needs

Is all Your love to cover me

So all the world will see

That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up

May it be broken as an offering of love

For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs

Is all Your love to cover me

So all the world will see

But I love You

With all my heart

With all my soul

With all my mind

And all the strength

I can find

All my soul needs

Is all Your love to cover me

So all the world will see I have nothing

Take my time here on earth

And let it glorify all that You are worth

For I am nothing, I am nothing,

I am nothing without You.

Nasty Comments

It has been unfortunate to see this week some nasty comments being added to our posts. As a result, we are forced restrict ability to add comments to only members of this blog. I regret to do this, because I don't want to shut anyone out, but we cannot be a good testimony when there is wickedness on the site.

For those who left the comments, if you return to our site, please know that we love you and God loves you too -- more than you can imagine. But know also that God is the seer of all deeds, and that He will hold you accountable for yours: "Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement." (Hebrews 9:27). You have taken a beautiful thing that many teens have worked hard to develop and spoiled it. Shame on you. The fact that you are alive to read this after blaspheming the almighty God is proof that God's favor and mercy is still available to you. We urge you: Please turn to God while there is still time. Click on "how to be saved" (below, right) to find out about a relationship with God that will last forever. It's the best thing you can have in this life, take it from the many teens at BSBC who have received God's gift of salvation.

To the youth group, keep up the great posts and comments, and please be extremely careful with the user name and password of this site. Give it out only to trusted friends and group members, and give them this same warning. See our "webmaster", Elizabeth, if you wish to post or comment on this site.


Clint