Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Snow Day Time with God

Vikings, 

On the Snow MAN TRIP the senior guys discussed the importance of spending time alone with Jesus. Today is another snow day and there's no better time to carve out some time alone with the God who made you. Below are some thoughts to help you spend time with the Lord today. 

-Drew

  • Remove Distractions
    • Find a spot where you can be alone
    • Put your phone, iPad and any other devices in another room on silent
    • Grab only a Bible and pen and a journal
  • Be Silent
    • Try and just be still for 5-10 minutes. It will feel like forever and there's no magic number, but just be still and allow your soul to 'settle.'
  • Pray: Begin a conversation
    • There are no magic words- just talk to God. It might feel strange if this is a new thing for you. 
    • Sometimes it helps to write out your prayer in a journal. Just write a letter to God. Tell him everything you're thinking. Example: "God, this feels strange to me. Writing a letter to someone that I'm not even sure will read it. I give you my doubts. Help me. I need you. I need to hear from you. I want to know you."
    • You can also slowly pray the words of the Lord's Prayer:
      • Our Father, who art in heaven,
            hallowed be thy Name,
            thy kingdom come,
            thy will be done,
                on earth as it is in heaven.
        Give us this day our daily bread.
        And forgive us our trespasses,
            as we forgive those
                who trespass against us.
        And lead us not into temptation,
            but deliver us from evil.
        For thine is the kingdom,
            and the power, and the glory,
            for ever and ever. Amen.
  • Pray: Confess your sin
    • Tell God how you have sinned and how you have made yourself your own god and not honored God. 
    • Here's a prayer of confession you can use:
      • Most merciful God,
        we confess that we have sinned against you
        in thought, word, and deed,
        by what we have done,
        and by what we have left undone.
        We have not loved you with our whole heart;
        we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
        We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
        For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
        have mercy on us and forgive us;
        that we may delight in your will,
        and walk in your ways,
        to the glory of your Name. Amen.
  • Read
    • Spend time reading God's Word. Take notes on what sticks out to you and write down any questions you have and you can talk about it with your YL leader. 
    • Here are a few places you can start reading:
      • Read 1 chapter of Psalms each day. Read it out loud as a prayer to God. There are 150 so you can do one a day for 5 months and then repeat.
      • Read 1 chapter of Proverbs each day. There are 31, so read one a day each day for a month.
      • Read the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. (Historical accounts of Jesus' life.)
  • Pray: Tell God what you're thankful for.
    • Write a list of all the things you want to thank God for. 
  • Pray: Ask God for your needs and others needs
    • Write a list of your requests to God
      • For yourself
      • For others
  • End with a song
    • Below are some songs you can play on Spotify or YouTube. It's not worth having the distraction of your phone in the room, so only go get your phone to play a song after you've gone through the other steps above. 

Monday, December 7, 2015

Mr. Christmas Tree 2015 Runway Script for the Parade of Trees

Now it’s that time you've all been waiting for, the chance to officially meet your contestants for the 2015 Northwest Young Life 6th Annual Mr. Christmas Tree Pageant.

1. Hunter Malone

Not only will he lead off for your NW Viking Baseball team, but he’s leading off tonight. Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together for Mr. Hunter Malone. A Conference Champion in baseball, Mr. Malone is no stranger to winning the title. As he walks down the aisle you may recognize his lovely face, it’s probably because you’ve seen it on your Lifetouch school photo flyers. With a jawline that rivals Zoolander, you can understand why he’s kicking off our parade of beauties this evening. He may be 0-1 in fights at a Young Life camp, but he’s #1 in everyone’s heart.  Let’s show a warm Viking welcome to Mr. Hunter Malone.

2. Mac Renslow

Walking in at the towering height of 6 foot 5, weighing in at a staggering 98lbs, put your hands together for your Student Body Secretary, Mr. Mac Renslow.  Noah MacIntyre has been in the Christmas spirit since the day he was born, I mean, check out those ginger locks of Christmas flavored hair follicles.  He can do a back handspring, walk on his knuckles, blow bubbles off his tongue, and Mac scored higher on the SAT than the rest of the contestants combined. Captain of the Lacrosse team and the kind of young man all you ladies want to bring home to meet your parentals.  It’s time for a Mac-attack- let him feel the love- ladies and gentlemen- Mr. Mac Renslow.

3. Danny Greene

Up next is another man who loves the colors of Christmas- give it up for Daniel Green.  He’s the only man who can smile while running a cross country race. “Danny, aren't you hurting while running so fast?” (chuckling) “Why yes I am” he says while laughing… only mocking your pain with his grin. 
Danny is also a faithful fan of the 12-0 Carolina Panthers… and just like them, he plans to walk away from tonight as a winner. No, he doesn’t have the physique of Cam Newton, and no, he probably can’t even spell the word physique, but neither can you, and that’s why you love Danny Green- because a vote for Danny, is a vote for the people. Danny has 2 eyes, just like you, 2 ears, just like you, and you know what else, Danny likes the smell of coffee. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it for Daniel Rudolph Greene.

4. Connor Doak

The only contestant to have received a concussion while wrestling inside of a sleeping bag in this very room, let’s welcome Connor Doak. Does he look just like Captain America? Please, do Happy Meals come with a toy?  Does a hundred pound bag of flour make a big biscuit? Is water wet?  Connor Doak is a modern day superhero. His body is built like a machine, but his heart is more like a teddy bear. It’s like a Build-a-Bear store, except instead of building a bear, someone built a soldier and put a sweet little teddy bear inside. It’s no wonder his last name ends in the letters OAK.  A wildabeast, built like an Oak Tree, here tonight to compete to be your tree, let’s welcome the superhero himself, Connor.. Oaky… Doaky.

5. James Einwaechter

If there’s a Darkhorse to win tonight’s competition, it’s none other than James Einwaechter. No one has spelled his last name correctly in the last century but that doesn’t stop him from jumping out of an airplane on his 18th birthday. He can dunk on an 8 foot goal and once beat Brady Elbin in one on one basketball when he was in 8th grade.  He brushes his teeth with his left hand, and have you ever seen those pearly whites? Like the cover of a magazine, especially a dental magazine.  With a striking resemblance to Clark Kent, ladies, he’s hoping tonight you’ll vote him as your Superman. Let’s hear a Viking cheer for the Darkhorse, James Einwaechter.

6. Will Matherly

Our next contestant is Mr. Will Matherly. Will enjoys long walks on the beach and tasty Starbucks peppermint frappacinos.  He began his senior year in a wheel chair, and is rumored to have sustain the injuries while wrestling a rabid jaguar, protecting his great- grandmother and her baby kitty, who was stuck in a tree, while she was walking across the street with a cane. When Will was 6 years old he received the distinguished honor of Most Improved Player on his rec league soccer team.  He will soon receive his eagle scout award and in honor of such accomplishment, let’s welcome Will by making the sound of an eagle together (ca-caw)

7. Robbie Rowell

The next contestant for the 2015 Mr. Christmas Tree pageant is none other than Robbie Rowell. No one in the history of the world has ever said his first name without following it with his last. Hello Robbie….Rowell. Many people have attempted, but no one has succeeded.  Mr. Rowell completed a great accomplishment this fall while setting a Northwest Cross Country record…for the slowest 5K. He was also embarrassingly defeated in a footrace by his 37 year old Chaco-wearing Young Life leader in front of a crowd of thousands.  While he may not run very fast at all, he actually has driven a vehicle over 150 mph, in a 55 mph speed zone.  He has handman skills of Bob the Builder and the film editing abilities of Steven Spielberg, let’s give a warm round of applause to the man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Robbie Rowell

8. Brady Elbin

A Burger King High School All-American in basketball, lacrosse, cross country and gymnastics, put your hands together for Brady Elbin.  Against all odds, Brady is actually wearing a shirt tonight, which is a rare sight.  But let’s be honest, if you had a body like that, you probably wouldn’t wear a shirt either. But don’t get too excited ladies, Brady wanted everyone here to know that he is off the market and has pledged his kiss under the mistletoe to Anahla alone.  A stellar athlete his entire life, this year he was selected to play “left-out and alternate bench warmer” on the NW men’s basketball team.  You know him, you love him, let’s make it rain for Brady Elbin.

9. Keegan Clary

His first name rhymes with Brian Regan, now let’s give it up for Keegan.  Keegan Clary has the voice of a audio book narrator, the body of a gazelle, and the golden locks of a greek god.  He has backpacked the Himalayas, surfed the beaches Paraguay, hang glided over the Atlantic, and once tightroped walked across Niagra falls. Do you smell that?  That’s not axe body spray, that’s not the scent of Christmas tree pine, that’s the aroma of a winner- ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it for Keegan Clary.

10. Zach Sanger

Much like Madonna or Prince, know one actually knows another name of our next contestant, he only needs one…put your hands together for the one-named ninja, Sanger.  Sanger recently set a NW cross country record for wearing the shortest shorts. You might not have seen them, either because you mistook them for a wide belt or you were blinded by the whiteness glaring off his upper thighs.  He has been so dedicated to Northwest Young Life that he has walked on foot to every club, which is a huge feat, considering he lives 70 yards west of this building.  His girlfriend may be a Sted-man, but he is a Stud-man. Let’s give a Viking welcome to the fastest man in tonight’s competition, Mr. Zachary Sanger.

11. Creighton Price


Our final contestant defeated puberty at the age of 4, let’s welcome Creighton Price.  With 12% body fat and 24% body hair, that remaining 64% of Creighton Price is one big pile of love.  A member of the NW Latin and fashion clubs, Mr. Price is also the founder and CEO of the 1st ever NW soccer club.  A pitcher on the baseball team and an anchor on the cross country team, this man puts the Elite in Athelete. Ladies, if you're thinking “that’s one fine looking tree” Just realize… you’re not alone.  As we welcome Creighton Price to the stage let’s give a rousing applause to all of our 2015 NWYL Mr. Christmas Tree pageant contestants.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Fall Club Schedule for NWYL

Sept 14 - All-City Freshmen Club
Sept 21 - 1st club
Sept 28 - Theme- 'Merica
Oct 5 - Theme- Battle of the Sexes
Oct 12- No theme
Oct 19- No theme
Oct 26 - Costume Club
Oct 30-Nov 1: Windy Gap & Carolina Point
Nov 2 - No theme
Nov 9 - YL banquet
Nov 16 - Hoe-down 
Nov 23- No theme
Nov 30- No theme
Dec 7 - Mr. Christmas Tree

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