Don't Anticipate, Participate!

It's a favorite saying when I go to camp. Every time someone says, "When are we going to...?" or "When are we going to be done?" I respond, "Don't anticipate, participate." It's not my saying, I stole it from someone else long ago. Stole? Well, rather borrowed and you can use it too.

But what does it mean? Simply - forget about worrying about what you hope will come next. Enjoy the moment, seize the day, live for today. If you are always thinking about tomorrow how can you enjoy today?

Jesus tells the disciples not to worry because God has blessed you.

Enjoy today - use every opportunity God gives you to enjoy your friends, family, sports, band, hiking, swimming, reading, surfing the web. Don't forget to do all of this (right now) for God. Stop worrying. Stop anticipating. Stop wondering if tomorrow will be better. Trust God has put you in the right place, right now. Live for God now - don't get selfish about a little boredom here and there.

Surviving Middle School

"SURVIVING MIDDLE SCHOOL" Book + CD

We're offering this book for $10 through the church to parents and students! Written by Rick Bundschuh (pastor, surfer, and cartoonist) this book is awesome and comes with an audio CD!!!

Words of wisdom and encouragment for students in Middle School/Jr. High This Fall!!!
The book chapter titles tell you how great this resources is:

• "Everybody Is Looking At me"
• "Your Mutating Body"
• "The Campus Zoo"
• "Making Up Your Own Mind"
• "Love & Romance - Middle School Style"
• "How To Avoid Flunking"
• "Dealing With Authorities"
• "How To Avoid Being A Jerk"
• "You Need Friends"
  

CD includes the songs: This Week The Trend • Relient K, Second Chances • Stellar Kart, Stories • TobyMac, Peachy • Family Force 5, Princes & Frogs • Superchick, Nuisance • John Reuben, Anticonformity • Krystal Meyers, Your Love Never Changes • Paul Wright

We have a limited number of copies at $10 so come into the church office or contact Rob to get your copy.

rob@stjohnsbloomington.org

http://www.interlinc-online.com/youth/sms/index.html

Wadda Ya Need?

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
- Romans 8:26

I just got back from a weekend camp (Camp45) and it was a good time! The weird thing is that we were all really worried about the weather. It was supposed to rain on Friday night, all day Saturday and maybe even Sunday. The likely prayer was, "God, please don't let it rain!" Was this really the prayer (it actually was)? Was asking for it not to rain a little selfish? I mean, famers like rain in the summer so if I pray for it not to rain am I hurting someone else? Tough question!!!

The verse above says it clear - we don't know what we ought to pray for but God's Spirit steps in and helps us. Maybe instead of praying for "no rain" I should have been praying for a great weekend, a weekend with new friendships, old friendships and a great time with God in God's great creation. Ask God for what you really need, not just what you really want. You want to win that baseball game, you want that new video game, you want that boy or girl to notice you, you want to go to the movies, etc. etc. etc. What do you really need? Who knows, is it to play better this game, to learn more about sportsmanship, to want less and give more, to repect others more?

I just wanted perfect weather. You know what? It rained. Not as much as predicted, more than I wanted it to. Guess what? It was still a great weekend. I got what I needed, a truly awesome weekend with a lot of great people who love God. Pray, and pray some more. God listens, God's Spirit translates, and let God show you what you really need.