Sandwich_Steve's Xanga

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 22:18:07 GMT

New Years Eve Low Down

When: Saturday, December 31st

Time: 6 pm meet at church. Return around 8 pm.

What: We're going to go bowling at Westgate lanes, then head over to Gattitown to get our grub on! Once we're done, we'll head back to hang out with the rest of the church until Midnight.

How Much: $15 should take care of everything.

So, bring your friends, that "nice" bowling shirt grandma gave you for Christmas, a change of socks (bowling shoes = funky), and an empty stomach. Happy New Years! Deuces, Steve <><

Friday, December 09, 2005

Fri, 09 Dec 2005 19:20:53 GMT

Lock-In Checklist

$10 for tonight
Comfortable/Warm clothes
A pillow and blanket if you want to crash
A ton of friends
Extra cash if you want to buy stuff at the movie, or maybe afterward
A teddy bear (this is for Elijah)
A cool board game if you have any (I like Taboo)
Other "lock-in" type stuff.....i got nothing

Don't forget, meet at church at 8:30 pm tonight. IT'S GOING TO ROCK!

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:58:04 GMT

Lock-In Info

When? Friday, 8:30 pm at the church
What to bring? $10 and warm/comfortable clothes and your friends!
Will there be food? YES! We will have a little something, something for you guys after the movie
SPONSORS: If you could please be up at the church at 7:45 to help set up, that would be great.

If you guys have any questions you can always give me a ring-a-ding on the phone. I just saw the news and it looks like everyone's got the day off....Wooohoooo!! Enjoy your free day and STAY WARM. See you guys tommorrow night. Deuces, Steve <><

Friday, December 02, 2005

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 04:34:01 GMT

Well, it's been awhile since I've posted here (my bad) and I'll be surprised if someone reads this. I don't share this as a devotional, or to impress, or for any reason other than to remind you how awesome Christ is. It's not here for you to "like" or "dislike," it's just here in hopes that God might see fit to use it. Either way, "thank You" God for what You're doing. :)

"Brokenness." I wonder what it is about this word that makes me so reluctant to hear it. I think it might have something to do with the way I was raised. When I was a little kid, I had this frappin' awesome Thundercats action figure. It was Lion-o and he had one of those cool "chopping action" arms that would lay the smack down on any enemies in my room. One day I got a little too rough with Lion-o (we were seriously administrating on some evil Transformer dudes) and I broke the "chopping action" on my action figure. I ran downstairs and said, "Dad, what happened?! Can you fix it?" Like any good father he studied it intently for awhile, then with a sympathetic look in his face said, "I'm sorry son, he's broke, I can't fix him." Maybe that's where I started getting off on the wrong impression of the word "broke" or any variation of the word (I REALLY liked my Lion-o).

   And here I am now, 26 years old, and even though I don't play with action figures (at least none that I'm willing to admit to) I still get this...awkward feeling when people start talking about being "broken" or "brokenness." It's scary, like with my action figure...if I'm broken can God really fix me? No one wants to play with a "broken" toy, why would God Almighty ever want to spend time with a "broken" Steve? (I don't even have a cool "chopping action") Be assured, I love Him, and He's my everything...God is right where He's supposed to be. But me, that's a different story sometimes. Besides, Youth Ministers shouldn't need to be "broken" right? We should always be right next to God...no need for fixing. What if our students found out that we struggle, that we're imperfect, that we sometimes hurt them accidentally, and sometimes they hurt us. Still reading?

   Well, this is the way I felt...until last night. I was in a prayer meeting...and the strangest thing happened. God kinda showed up all of a sudden, and people stopped just long enough to realize that in the midst of them asking for prayer for everyone BUT them...they really needed prayer themselves. And then things got REALLY crazy. This man...a manly man...not the kind of man who cries, or shows weakness, the kind of stoic man you might see in a movie. The man who trudges on, unphased by all the junk in life, making it work. Well, this man, all of a sudden...he starts CRYING?! Was I really seeing this? Not this guy, I've never seen this before. Not only was he crying, he was weeping, like a little child. We all got up and layed hands on him and prayed for him, and he wept. He realized he was "broken" and there was nothing he could do to fix himself...he was tired of pretending.

Then I had to go back across the street to the youth meeting where one of my Seniors, Elijah, was leading the lesson that night...it was good, "Don't be a hypocrite...be a child of light." He invited me up to close out the evening, and I just couldn't shake what I saw across the street. So we took some time to be "real" with God. And while I was on stage singing, it occured to me, being "broken" isn't a bad thing after all. In fact, I think God likes broken, He likes weak. At least that's what He says in 2 Cor. 12:9 "My gracious favor is all that you need, my power works best in your weakness." God also says that we are "treasures in jars of clay." That's when it really hit me. When I'm "broken," when Steve is lying in pieces on the floor before the Potter...that's when the good stuff spills out everywhere (It's a big, holy mess). God uses our brokenness to remind us that we're not just some dingy, cracked old pot. We may think we're not worthy of God's love, or we're scared to represent Christ to the people around us...so we hide. But it's when we're broken before Him, that we see we are filled with a treasure. What's the treasure you ask? The knowledge of who you are created to be in Christ!   You are a child of God, a Child of Light! You are loved beyond our pathetic human understanding of real love. He demonstrates His love by taking up residence in you...in me. The cracked, beat up jar known as Steve...the treasure of Christ comes and fills me up. Sweet! Are you tired? Do you just want a chance to be real? My advice, put away the super glue and duct tape that you've been using to patch the cracks in your "jar." Instead, fall to pieces in the arms of Christ...be broken.         Deuces, Steve <><

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:10:03 GMT

GIRLS!!

Don't forget that I NEED your registration for Crave no later than tomorrow (Wedensday). If you can bring your $35 as well that would be great. But, if you need too, you can give me your money on Sunday. In case you didn't know, your sponsors will be: Katie Henry & Holly Bunting. I believe this is going to be an awesome experience for you gals. Don't forget to invite your friends to come! (I will take late registrations for visitors that you get to come). I hope everyone has a swell day. -Deuces, Steve <><

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 02:16:39 GMT

OCTOBER CALENDAR

Oct. 15th- THIS SATRUDAY. Community Service project at Baptist Community Center. We will leave at Noon on Saturday. You will need to wear clothes that you can get dirty in Also, bring $5 for dinner. We should be back around 5:30 or so...plenty of time to hang with Char if you want!

Oct. 22- Fall Festival at the FLC. The Youth are doing the dunking booth and helping out with anyone who needs it. I'm looking forward to dunking Bo.

Oct. 28th & 29th- Crave Girls Conference in San Antonio. This is for Jr. High and Sr. High girls. The cost is $35 and covers your conference materials and one night stay at Motel 6 in San Antonio. You will need a couple bucks for meals. I highly encourage all of you to go and bring some friends with you! It'll be awesome! If you want to go, let me know so I can get you a registration packet.

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Sat, 24 Sep 2005 17:40:31 GMT

There WILL be food tonight at FLC.

-Steve <><

Friday, September 23, 2005

Fri, 23 Sep 2005 01:17:17 GMT

Pool Party Info.

The pool party has been postponed until a later date. You guys can pray for Warren and Holly, they've got relatives coming up from Houston to escape the hurricane. They'll be staying with the Buntings.

Since I think you guys to deserve to have something on Saturday, here's the low down.

What? Movie/Game night
When? Saturday, Sept. 24th at 6 p.m. in FLC
What's showing? Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy
What games? Whatever you guys bring

I think that the weather really shouldn't be too bad for us to do something inside. Obviously if there's like tornado's whirling around, and cows flying by your windows, then we won't meet. If you have any last minute questions about it, then just give me a call on my cell. Otherwise you can send me an e-mail or post on this entry. See you guys Saturday.
Peace. -Steve <><

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 23:57:09 GMT

Hey Everyone,

I sent out an e-mail with this info...but I'll post it here as well. I look forward to seeing most of you tommorrow morning at 7a.m. for See You At The Pole. We will have someone at every campus. Here's the low down.

Brandon Henry: Dripping Springs High School

Alan Rossing: Lake Travis High School

Brian Colbath: Bowie High School

Steve & Elijah: Dripping Springs H.S. and Clint Small Middle School

If you guys have any questions, just give me a buzz on my cell. Peace. -Steve <><

Friday, September 16, 2005

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 00:38:56 GMT

Hey Look! I've finally added a post to my Xanga! YEAH.

Just wanted to let you guys no that the Activity Day this Saturday is CANCELLED. I am re-scheduling it for the first part of October. In case you didn't catch the reason why, the ministry we were going to do our service with was unable to use us this Saturday. Unfortunately there was such short notice that it was impossible to re-schedule this month. No worries though, we'll have something FOR SURE next month! :)

Next Saturday, September 24th we will have our Pool Party @ the Bunting's! Make sure that you invite all your friends. See you guys Sunday. Deuces. -Steve