Like Flint
Isaiah wrote these words:
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

Incredible...what inspiring words. God helps. Let those words rattle around in your mind--and your soul--for a few minutes. Savor them. How do they taste?

God helps = I am confident.
God helps = I am resolute.
God helps = I need help.
God helps = I will be redeemed.
God helps = I am determined.
God helps = I can stand.
God helps = I will not be shaken.
God helps = I don't have to fall to fear.
God helps = I will not be disappointed.
God helps = I can be forgiven.


Today, in spite of the circumstances or outlook, know that there is a God in heaven who will help you. He will give you strength. Make up your mind to stand for him, to know him, to let him strengthen you. Set your face like flint and know that you do not have to experience shame. God wants to cover our sins, to blot them out. He's just waiting for us to come to his side, to call his name, to claim his promises.

Great Prayer Time Last Night
Every week after you students take off, Team XStream hangs around to pray and talk about what God is doing in our lives and at XStream. Last night, the team gathered around me and lifted me up to God. I was touched and moved. Once again, I am reminded that I am so blessed to have a bunch of friends like Team XStream. God uses our leaders to bless and teach, to encourage and inspire. Thanks, Team. You guys are the best! I love you.

Hungry Eye
The Two Towers and the seduction of spectacle
Take a few moments to read this great article on Peter Jackson's interpretation of Tolkien's The Two Towers. Pay close attention to the difference between and Adventure and Quest.

I have been reading Tolkien's works every year since I was 12. They never grow old. I never fail to be struck by a sense of adventure, community, passion and purpose, the battle between good and evil. I throw myself into the story, wanting to be part of the Fellowship, longing to be part of something great, to make a difference in the world. The Quest--life worth living.

Tonight was a weird, but good night. I was really hit hard by Noah's story about folks in our community trying to make it through the winter with no heat. There are folks around us with serious needs. God has given us the resources to make a difference in their lives. I am so impressed with your response. You guys gave more than $150.00 tonight. That's almost as much as our group collected for the 30-Hour Famine. Thank you for responding to God's prompting.

If you are looking for a way to make a difference every day, click your way to The Hunger Site. Every day you can give food to feed the hungry.

God has blessed us. How can we turn that around, so that we are a blessing to others? Think outside the box. Talk it over with your friends and Plunge group. Do something. Risk. Get involved. Love people in the name of Jesus.

I am proud to be your youth pastor!

XStream Announcements for 2-26

March 1—10th grade girls shopping trip.

Metro Worship March 5 at CMA, 7-8:30

No XStream March 12—Enjoy Spring Break!

March 22—caving trip to Bear Cave. Sign up tonight—the deadline is this week! You'll need a permission slip, which you can download from this page.

Gotcha should be reaching it’s end. Stay focused.

March 23—Middle School girls (and anyone else who wants to come—this is America, you know) ice skating. 1-3 pm $5

March 28-29: 6-9th guys roller hockey/games/sleepover at Cornerstone. Invite a friend to come hang out and get to know us!

Camp Crosstraining: June 22-27

Take this Ethics Survey
Find out how your personal ethics compare with those of other Christians. The survey will take a few minutes and results are available immediately. The results are going to be used in a class Leighton is teaching.

Woohoo! Hello Strep!
Yep, strep. Welcome home...ain't that a fine "How do you do?"

is anyone still playing Gotcha?

Bye Bye Brace
I got my immobilizer off Thursday! My knee is swollen, and there is very little muscle tone, but I'm back in the game! I'm still a little gimpy, and steps are hard, but I'm back. Oh sure, you might see me knee muscles give out, you might see me stumble and barely catch myself before I fall face first inthe snowpack...but I'm back, baby! There's very little scarring from the surgery, and I can honestly tell a difference in how my muscles feel from Friday to today (Monday). My legs were sore over the weekend. But I'm back in the game, baby!

Strep
I feel pretty yucky. I woke up at 4 Sunday morning, freezing, swollen throat, ears and head aching like crazy...I have a doctor's appointment today. So much for date night!

Home again, home again, jiggity jog
Just got back from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I was there for a Pure Freedom retreat. I got to see Bryant-Denny Stadium and a little bit of the town. My buddy Gabe (# *8) came to see us. He's a kicker for Alabama, and a godly young man.
We had a great weekend. There was a definite move of God, and many students made commitments to follow God and his plan for purity. Praise God!

This week's online worship tool
Take a tour through this online labyrinth. Make sure that you have time to spend to hear God's voice. Don't rush through this one...

XStream Announcements for Feb 19

Gotcha is on…watch your back!

Feb. 21-22—30 Hour Famine. That’s this Friday, so no eating after 6 a.m.!

February 23—9th Grade Girls meet at Melissa's house.

Feb. 22-23—9th guys sleepover at Ryan O's. See Ryan for info.

March 22—caving trip to Bear Cave. Sign up soon—the deadline is next week! You'll need a permission form, which is located on this website!

God is looking for students who will stand for him, who will passionately pursue him, who will let their love for him—and his love for them—rule their lives. Is this you?

Headed to Tuscaloosa
Pray for the Pure Freedom Team as we head to Tuscaloosa tomorrow. We'll be sharing the Pure Freedom retreat with a bunch of middle and high school students.

Woohoo! I got a wireless network today! We had the Ohlsons and the Mylins over for diiner and a game of Settlers of Catan (Ohlsons snuck in a victory), then Ryan set up the network for me. Ain't friends great?!

Speaking of friends...
Andy, Janet, Jonathan, and Chris came over today and dug us out of the snow! We got about 2 feet of new snow yesterday, and they shoveled the whole driveway! What an act of love. I'll be glad when my knee is healed and I can get out and do stuff like normal folks!

The Sword of Elyon
I found this cool online game. Check it out!

http://www.elyonsword.com/

Len Sweet Interview
Group magazine interviewed Len Sweet on the state of youth ministry and his opinions on what needs to happen for the sake of the Kingdom. Here's a snippet:
group: ...what are the changes that must happen for youth leaders wanting to turn the corner?

sweet: The biggest one is their need to give up the ministry. I tell youth pastors, 'Your major job is to give away the ministry to your kids. You must decrease that Christ may increase in their lives." These kids need mentors. They do not need pied pipers.

This is the first generation in history that does not need authority figures to access information. But waft a minute-they need authority figures all the more to process all that information. They don't need us to get the truth-what they need is mentoring. "Now that I can get it, help me. How do I live it? How do I perform it? How do I pray it?" That's the mentoring model. It's much more low-key but high-powered.

You can learn this from Star Wars, for crying out loud. These Jedi knights are spiritual masters. That's what we need-knights of faith that can show our kids what it means to be a master of the spiritual disciplines, a master of the spiritual life, a master of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

http://66.137.184.33/includes/ShowSweetenedArticles.asp?articleID=89

FruitLoops
I downloaded the demo for FruityLoops http://www.fruityloops.com/English/frames.html a few days ago. I love the sounds, but I'm not sure I am going to be able to figure this out on my own. Anybody know much about creating and editing drum loops?

Looking for an online worship experience?
Here's a flash link that I found to be simply beautiful.

http://www.embody.co.uk/archive/edb00/girl.swf

There are lots of great spots out there on the web to help you worship the Lord. I'll try to post links to some of the ones that connect with me. If you know of any others out there, send me a link.

MIddle School Sunday School
This week we'll be meeting at the High School, like usual. The unusual thing is that we'll be rolling to the CMA church to worship with them.
Your parents will need to pick you up at the CMA church (on Whitehall Road) between 12:15 and 12:30

Valentine's Banquet
Wow! What a great evening! Thank you, XStreamers and Team XStreamers, for making our banquet such a success.
All the adults had a blast, and you guys were wonderful. Pictures should be up soon, so keep checking this site.

XStream Announcements
February 12, 2003

Valentine’s Banquet for the adults of Calvary. We’ll be serving dinner. That’s this Friday!

February 15—9th Grade Girls meet at Melissa’s house.

Feb 16—Team XStream meeting at Subletts’ 2-4:30. Bring your own lunch.

Feb. 21-22—30 Hour Famine. See Eva for details.

Feb. 22-23—9th guys sleepover at Ryan O's.See Ryan for info.

Gotcha is on…watch your back!

God is looking for students who will stand for him, who will passionately pursue him, who will let their love for him—and his love for them—rule their lives. Is this you?

Tending the Garden
Jesus told the story of a man who had a garden, and an enemy. While the man was sleeping, his enemy snuck into the garden and planted weeds. The weeds sprung up with the wheat, and the garden was a wreck.

Our local application: Our students are the garden, and the good things growing are planted by God. We need to tend the garden with passion, because there is an enemy who would love to plant weeds in the lives of our students. Feed those good growing things. Nurture those plants. Care for them. Guard those tender shoots with some aggression, because the weeds are going to destroy the work that God is doing.

Stac