SnoRodeo 2008 Video

Here it is... the SnoRodeo 2008 video. Click on the Youtube link to watch it in high quality! It had to be broken into two parts in order to fit on youtube.
Part 1

Part 2

SnoRodeo 2008 Pictures!!!

Check them out in all their GLORY here:

What is Christmas Really about?

Numbers 34: Canaan's Boundaries

The word “boundaries” often has negative connotations because no one thinks they like boundaries. People like to be free and independent and have the option to do things their way.

Boundaries are so important to our culture that there are books upon books on emotional boundaries, personal boundaries, professional boundaries, dating boundaries, societal boundaries, social boundaries, etc. Even though we don’t feel like we need them, God knows we do.

I probably wasn’t easy for the Israelites to stay within their boundaries – and we will see what happens in the next few chapters, but God knew they needed to know how far the land was theirs.

Have you every felt like God put a boundary in your life? Maybe it was easy to honor, but sometimes it is hard to obey when there are limits put on us. Tell me about it!

PLEASE NOTE – I am not encouraging you to read any of the books pictured – they are just there to show how even our culture understands we need boundaries, even though we many not always want them.

Nexus Review: Numbers Series #4 -- Complainers vs Creators

The Israelites were out of control. God blessed and blessed and saved and provided and listened and gave second chances and third and God even was patient, but none of it broke through their world view problem. They were fixated on the negative and unable to see their own role in making the world they way they wanted. They refused to own their mistakes and the consequences of them.

So much of their unhappiness was brought on themselves... Their bad choices brought them pain, and they blamed God. The whined and complained and pitied themselves above all others, yet when we look at the blessings in their life it is hard to be jealous. They are the ones who God dwelt visibly among, who God fought tangibly for, who God did mighty miracles in front of. Most of us would give an kidney to witness just one such mighty act of God, and they had seen so many, but they didn’t care.

Makes you wonder. Would we have been any different in their position. Would we be able to see the blessings or would we fixate on our wants, desires, and our need for constant comfort. It is easy to answer the question actually. Hold the mirror to your life right now... do you spend more time complaining, or thanking; wishing for more for yourself or creating blessings for others.

Sometimes no matter how much we have, we always want more, and more... and more... and even more than that.... We will even make our selves sick to get it.

-The Israelites were insatiable... they would complain no matter what...

...While the Israelites whined and complained, they selfishly squandered the most amazing opportunity God had ever given a nation: The opportunity to create a new and wonderful life for themselves, and their children!

They were already God’s “Favorites” but they couldn't see how blessed they were, so they through it all away.

We face the same choice: Complain or Create?
-What about you? It is easy to answer the question actually. Hold the mirror to your life right now... do you spend more time complaining, or thanking; wishing for more for yourself or creating blessings for others.

If you haven't read Numbers 16, you should!!! What would you need to do to become a creator instead of a complainer?

Numbers.4 2

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Numbers 33: Your Journey

Do you ever wonder why your crazy Mosaic youth leaders are always challenging you guys to be creative? You know...we are always creating fun ways for you to express yourself (shameful plug for the post card...send us some! We love getting them!!!)

Sometimes we even suggest journaling. What a great way to document history.

History you ask?

Im sure most of you are thinking to yourself..."now what is so important about MY life - that I should #1 consider it 'history', and #2 spend MORE of my time documenting it?"

Well, let me tell you.

Have you ever felt that God was not working in your life? We all have those moments. When you document what goes on in the day to day (either by journaling or blogging) you have the opportunity to look back and actually 'see' how God was working in your life. Sometimes we miss those tiny details along the way...but just like a puzzle - when you put one piece together with another...it hardly looks like the finished product. It takes time to build enough of the puzzle before you actually see the full picture.

So, pull out a pen and paper (do you feel creative today?) Heck, it doesn't even have to be a pen (how about crayons, colored pencils, cray-pa's, chalk, idk...get creative) and start documenting your life. Make sure to let us know how we can help you on your journey. After all, the Israelites did it in chapter 33 of Numbers. (now go read about where they have been)

Numbers 32: Like Samwise?

I love the Lord of the Rings books and movies.  (Yes, I admit it: I'm a geek.)  One of my absolute favorite things about the story is this amazing character named Sam.  After Jesus, he's pretty much the best friend in the whole world.  He risks everything, including his life, and goes into Mordor (basically the scariest place ever) to help his friend Frodo.  This passage from Philippians (along with Galatians 6:2) could almost be his motto:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. --Philippians 2:3-4

In Numbers 32, Moses reams the tribes of Gad and Reuben for not doing just that.  Just as the nation of Israel is about to go into the promised land and go to war against the people who are living there, they go to Moses and ask not to be taken across the Jordan River.  They say that they want to say right where they are, because the land is good for their livestock.  Moses reminds them that if they don't go with the rest of the people to war in the promised land, they'll make God angry with the whole nation and then He might abandon them in the wilderness, and the whole nation will be destroyed.

Most of us probably won't be required to go to war alongside our friends.  And we for sure won't need to go to Mordor with them.  But we all need to think about how our actions are going to impact those around us.  And we need to consider their needs before our own. 

We love it when we get mail from you guys... (both POSTCARDS... and email). Last week one of you sent us a really cool email, and we wanted to share it..

Here is a cool email from a student. This is Ryan’s Response when I asked him to email me his top 5 things he is thankful for:

Hey JNG! I got your email, and here are some things I'm thankful for!

1. My family. They will stand by me and help me if I'm in trouble, and just to give me a laugh, even if we do fight once in a while.

2. Food. Over the past couple years, my eyes have been opened to the real world. Not the one that we live in, that almost gives everything to us, I mean the one where several people die of starvation every day. It makes me love having all the food that I do.

3. Home. Once again, there are people, even in this country that don't have warm, cozy homes like I do. I can't believe how blessed I am to have these things.

4. School. I hate to say it, but I realize that school is actually good for me. I don't like getting up early or the homework, but I am learning, growing, and getting pretty good grades. Then again, I really don't like homework...

5. Computers. Without them, you wouldn't get this e-mail, there would be no blogs, no facebook, no computer programming... The important thing is to not let them get in the way of God.

Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving, like I get to look forward to (I'm thankful for that, too!). Be safe, eat lotsa turkey, and have fun!

Numbers 31: war

Check out Numbers 31:27

After the war the Israelites divided up all the things that they had aquired after conquring the towns. the ones that gave an appropriate amount to God were given more.

this is a great thought as we prepare for Christmas. Often times we just think about what we want (i want legos, and a few other toys). We often forget that we should be thinking of what God wants for us this season.

Think about how God would want you to honor him with the things that he has blessed you with this season.

Numbers 30: If you say it, mean it.

In Numbers 30, we learn lots of cool stuff about being honest people.

THe Bible is actually really clear about what honest living is...

2 When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

Honest living is doing what you say you will do.

Thats it. If you say you will clean your room, then you do it. If you promise to keep a secret, then you keep the secret. If you tell someone that you are their friend, then you treat them like a friend all the time.

Honest living is learning to make your life obey your promises, and learning to promise things you will really do.

Numbers 29: Happy New Years!

Chapter 29 of Numbers is describing the Feasts and religious duties that were to occur around the time of the Jewish New Year.

Their Ancient calender marked this date as the first of the year, thus it was a great time for a party. As you read the text we are talking about almost an entire month or special feasts, parties, and special religious services. There are even many days were the people are commanded to party...

Numbers 29:35 "On the eighth day of the festival, proclaim another holy day. You must do no ordinary work on that day.

Why all these festivities?

Simple... God knows we need it. God knows that humans need something to look forward to. He knows we need breaks from the weekly rhythms of work and sleep and eat. He knows that if we do not get these breaks, we start to get discouraged and our bodies break down. We even get depressed sometimes.

When was the last time you actually partied with God and just enjoyed some time celebrating with your Friends?

I am not talking about watching movies, TV, texting, IMing, and all of the other quick and regular means of "relaxing" that dont really help us relax...

I mean actually taking a break from the regular rhythm and just letting your mind, body, soul, mouth, eyes, etc really rest from the over stressed and over stimulated lives that we live.

God knows we need this rest... do you?

Numbers 28: A Fragrant Offering…

So, I know what you are thinking (after reading Chapter 28)…
In order to please God I need to:
- find a perfect lamb (one without defect)
- mix the grain offering with the oil
- burn it in order to show God that I love him/to be saved from my sin

Obviously, this isn’t exactly how we show God we love him now because Jesus came to be the ultimate Perfect Lamb and offers us salvation if we simply ask for it. After we ask for forgiveness, we are able to offer things to God that prevent us from being in communion with God.

What kinds of things do you offer to God in your daily life to show Him that you love him and are grateful for your salvation? Have you surrendered a relationship that wasn’t good – because it wasn’t honoring to God? Did you stop a behavior because you knew it wasn’t pleasing to the Lord?

Spend a bit of time reflecting on what you could offer to God in your life.

Numbers 27: Petitioning God

In Numbers 27 the daughters of a man named Zelophead (who died in the wilderness) came to Moses to petition the land their father owned.

Since Zelophead had no sons, The custom was that the land would be passed to Zelophead's brothers...without a brother to inherit the land these daughters were essentially homeless (or without inheritance).

When Moses went to God for the daughters of Zelophead, God found that these women were right in their statements and gave them posession of their fathers land.

I love how this story illustrates that God gives proper Judgement and cares intimately about the affairs - not only of nations, but of small families.

He will never leave or forsake us.

Send us your postcards!

We want you to be part of an AMAZING project that we are making to tell the world how AWESOME you are. All you have to do, is mail us a postcard that tells us something cool about you. You are more than just a NUMBER, or another face in the crowd. You are a one of a kind expression
of God’s creativity and we want to know more about you.
So...tell us...it can be a secret, fear, accomplishment, passion, love, hope, dream, mistake, regret, like, dislike, or favorite something (number, feature, letter, word, food, person, game, show, movie, etc.).

Steps to sending your postcard:
1. Make a postcard. Feel free to make postcard from whatever you want, my favorite is cereal boxes, just make sure to obey the size guideline!!!
2. Put a message about your life on it! (it can be anonymous)
3. Place a stamp and address on the card and mail it!

Mosaic Middle School Ministry
777. S. Barker Road
Brookfield WI, 53045

Suggestions for cool postcards.
• Be Creative -- don’t feel bound to send a boring postcard, be as unique and innovative as you can in what it is made of and what it looks like.
• Be Honest -- We want to know about you!
• Be Appropriate -- We don’t want to read or look at vulgar stuff, and neither does anyone else. Find a way to express yourself that channels your message and feelings, but does so appropriately!
Post cards must be able to be mailed with either a postcard or regular stamp, and must fall within the appropriate size restrictions of the USPS.
If you want to send us a really big message, consider sending it on multiple post cards!

Click here to download a sample postcard form to get you started!!!

Numbers 26: A Lifetime with Yahweh

This chapter gives the second census of the people of Israel. The first was 40 years earlier way back in Numbers 1, and the total was 603,550 men "ready to go to war." In the second census the total was 601,730. What's kind of interesting about these two censuses is that there's only two guys out of the entire nation who were around to be counted for both: Joshua and Caleb. (Remember, in Numbers 13, they were the two spies who wanted to obey God and enter the land. The rest of the spies and all of the people wanted to disobey God, so they weren't able to enter the land.)

I want to be like Joshua and Caleb. They started serving God when they were young, and they continued to serve Him all their lives. What an amazing privilege!!! I was thinking the other day: I've known God nearly all my life, so if I live long enough, I'll get to serve Him for 80-90 years or more! A whole lifetime. Seriously. A lifetime here on Earth to get to know God better and make His will a reality and His name known. The only thing I can think of that might be cooler than that is the fact that most of you probably have even more time ahead of you to get to know God better and serve Him here on Earth!

How can you get to know Him better? How can you serve Him?

Nexus Review: Numbers Series #3 -- Rabble vs Humble

Pride is a celebrated american virtue, but it is not actually a virtue at all.

Pride sets itself up in opposition to humility, the true virtue.

Many people confuse pride and strength.

They talk of team pride, when really what they need is team strength. Strength is a resolve to do your best and try your hardest even in the face of great adversity. Strength and humility can go hand in hand, but there is no room in humility for human pride.

Human pride rises up in arrogance against any other that dares to challenge it. It sees itself as special, different, blessed, even better than all others.

It fights against submission to God, submission to an opponent, submission to compromise, or submission to any sort of authority.

Pride leads us to hunger for more height and fame, but it is ultimately a sign of weakness.

The proud are to weak to face a universe where they are not in control, where God exists and is in charge. Their pride rises from their own misplaced confidence in their ability, where as true strength rises from deep faith and resolved character.

Numbers 3 Rabblevshumble

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Numbers Bookmark Chapter 24-29

What a great week to read the book of numbers!
This week we have a lot to look forward to!
Here is your bookmark for this week!
Kristina :)

Numbers 25: Is killing my friends ok??

Next time you get in a fight at school, and your parents ground you say to them "well at least I didn't kill the other person".

At first glance we could understand from Numbers 25 that its ok to kill those that make fun of us or others that we don't like. But I think the point is more about verses 10-13. We should be ZEALOUS for God and his desires in our life. Zealous means excited, passionate, stoked, full of joy and happiness, as well as focused on a mission. (this is mark's definition... not websters) How are you living your life in a way that you are zealous for God... When we are zealous for him, He will see that and honor that in our lives.

Don't start killing people in your school (especially if your homeschooled) check out Exodus 20:13.

Numbers 24: Balaam's curse??? err...Blessing

So in Numbers 24 theres a couple really cool things that happen...

To start Balaam sees that God is pleased to bless Israel. Imagine seeing what Balaam saw here, he saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. I would imagine it might look something like this,
just a whole lot cooler because the tents would be arrayed facing the place where God's presence hung out with his people!

Then Balaam speaks words that God gives him, and he blesses Israel. No big deal right? Except for Balak isn't too happy because that is EXACTLY what he didn't want to have given to Israel...he wanted to have them cursed! Balak gets pretty mad at Balaam saying, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times." Not exactly what Balak was hoping would happen!

Balaam's response is awesome...it also made me think. This is what Balaam says:

Numbers 24:12-13 "12 Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13 'Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD -and I must say only what the LORD says'?"

When I read this I wondered...what would I have done? Would I have given up a palace filled with silver and gold? Would I have settled for what the world was offering and not done what God asked of me? What would you do? Would you take the money...or obey God?

Numbers Bookmark Chapter 18-23

Hey Students!-
Sorry this bookmark is late!!!!
Here is your bookmark for chapters 18-23 :)
Kristina

Numbers 23: Making Sense of Balaam and his Donkey

Balaam is a tricky dude to understand!

In the book of numbers, it almost seems like he is a good guy, BUT he is not. He is a bad DUDE through and through.

First he is dumber than a donkey.
God should not have to tell us over and over what we are supposed to do. Balaam keeps asking God, even though God already said no. His donkey gets it, but he doesn't

The same thing is true about him going along with Balak. He should have know enough as a prophet of God, to know he had no business even being with the enemies of Israel (God's people). SO while it seems like he is being the good guy by only blessing the way God says,

Balaam is really just being a greedy SNAKE

Balaam keeps looking for a way to do what Balak wants so Balak will PAY him. Make no mistake, the only reason Balaam is there is that he wants the fatty paycheck.

Don't believe me? Check out these others sources and see for yourself!

Jude 1:11
Joshua 13:22
Revelation 2:14
2nd Peter 2:15-16
Deuteronomy 23:4-5
Numbers 31:8
Numbers 31:16

Numbers 22: A talking Donkey?

Have you ever been as stubborn as Balaam in this story? He is so stubborn to see the angel (probably because he wasn’t seeking what God wanted for him) that he beat his beloved donkey – who had gotten him through long years of traveling, I’m sure.

It would have been pretty embarrassing to have a donkey set you straight when you aren’t listening to God. It shows that God can get your attention in unusual ways – you just need to be paying attention to Him and spending time seeking what he wants for you.

When I want to seek God, I surrender myself to Him: Take my life, take my mind, take my heart and make it all of you. Help me to see what you want me to do. Help me to become who you want me to become. I am nothing without you, God. Take control of my life.

If Balaam would have surrendered himself to God, do you think this story would have ended differently? What do you think would have happened?

Numbers 21: The FIERY Serpent

Numbers 21:9 "And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived."

God sent firey serpents among the people because of their sin and many Israelites died when they were bit by them. After the people repented and asked for forgiveness...God asked Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a standard (or pole)...so that if any person was bit, all they had to do was look upon the serpent and their life would be spared.

Its interesting to me that God didn't remove the serpents from the land. This would have been another solution to the problem of the people getting bit. Instead he asked Moses to create something to which people 'look upon' if they were bit.



And if they were bit...and looked up this image above... they were saved.

The cross has the same saving power for us. There will always be sin in our lives. We need to recognize the sin in our lives as a deadly poisonus snake bite and immeditely turn and look to the cross...for HE died to save us from these sins.

How many snake bites do you have? Turn to the cross.

Numbers 20: Three out of Four... not quite enough...

Step 1: You have a problem.
Step 2: You go to God for help.
Step 3: God gives you directions.
Step 4: You do what God says.

Seems like a good way to do things, right? But that's not what Moses and Aaron did in Numbers 20. They got the first three steps, but then instead of doing what God said, Moses did something else. He also lost his temper and yelled at the people of Israel. Because he didn't honor God in front of the people, Moses wasn't able to go into the promised land.

It seems crazy to me that Moses went to God for help, but then when he got back to the problem he didn't do what he was told. But I guess I kind of do that sometimes. Perhaps I don't lose my temper, but I often go to God for help and then once I get back in whatever situation might be the problem, I forget what He told me or showed me. And that's just stupid, like looking in a mirror and going away and forgetting what I look like. Check out James 1:22-25:

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

So let's not just hear what God has to say to us. Let's do it. What has He been saying to you?

Numbers 19: Cleansing Waters

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we are unclean before the Lord. Making mistakes in a movie theater, lust-full thoughts, making fun of the “weird” kid at school, hating our parents, what ever it is sometimes we are unclean before the Lord.

Fortunately we don’t have to kill any doves, rams, bulls, or goats anymore to make up for it. Jesus died on the cross as our ultimate sacrifice, and through his blood we are cleaned. Have you asked for him to clean you? Verse 20 says that if we are unclean, we should be put outside of our community, separated from our God, and our friends. We are humans, we will sin, but the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of the Lord covers it all. Spend time today confessing to him today, and walk through the Cleansing water that he provides.

20 But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean.

Numbers 18: Whose are you?

Numbers 18 talks a lot about a group of Israelites that God set apart to be his. They were called the Levites. In recent chapters some of the Levites caused some problems and crazy things happened, like the ground opening up and swallowing them...CRAZY! This isn't like that but it is pretty cool what God says about the Levites and Aaron.

This is not the most exciting book, but stay with me on this. God gives Aaron a whole bunch of rules for his family and also for the Levites to follow. Aaron and his family were to be in charge of the sanctuary and the tent and everything that went with it. The Levites were to be guardians over the tent and Aaron and his family, to keep people out so that no one would be struck dead. The Levites were to be set apart for God, they were called to serve him (See Numbers 18:21).

Now, reading this chapter made me think...the Levites were called to serve God, to be completely his...isn't that sort of what I'm called to? In Exodus God gave his people these 10 commandments. They were one way that the people were to be set apart for him. In the New Testament Jesus expands upon this idea that we are to be set apart. So I asked myself, am I fully God's? Like, completely? Are you?

In Numbers God designates the Levites as his, not just in word, but in different ways so that all of Israel would know who the Levites were. If you are a Christian then you bear God's name, you are a child of God. If you are a child of God, do others know? Can they tell you are God's and not your own?

Numbers 17: Grumbling to Death

You would think they would learn!

The Israelites were constant complainers, but the problem was that they were constantly complaining about the blessings God had given them. The Israelites were grumbling... often to death...

In Numbers 17 they are once again complaining that they do not want to follow Aaron, God's chosen leader... so God tells moses to collect all their staffs and put them in God's presence over night.

8 The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.

God did this as a warning to the rebellious Israelites that their grumbling was not good...

10 The LORD said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die."

The Israelites didn't think God's blessings were enough....

They didn't like the people God had chosen to lead them...

They didn't really want to follow God at all... they wanted him to bless them, and given them what they want from life, but then leave them alone.

You know what... I can relate to them... I often find myself complaining when God actually expects me to obey him. I love the blessings, but struggle with the obedience thing...

how about you?

Numbers 16: Buried Alive!

The Levites were out of control. They were given a special role in the building and maintaining of the tabernacle (which is an honor), and they simply wanted more power.

It is incredible –not in a good way- that they would not be satisfied and the Israelites constantly were complaining about everything. They have already complained about food, fire, guidance and even the leaders despite the fact that God provided every time. Will the Israelites ever be content?

This passage is good to reread and see that if we aren’t content with what God has given us and we choose not to focus on the many blessing God has given us, there are often consequences.

Numbers 16:28-33 - "Then Moses said, 'This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.'

As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community."

Maybe reading about the consequences of the Levite leaders who went against Moses will help us remember that God knows what he is doing – even if it doesn’t make since to us. We simply need to trust him and choose to be content in each circumstance.

Are there any circumstances that you have chosen to be content – even though it wasn’t easy?

Numbers 15: W.W.J.D Bracelets - Revisited

"You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord..." (Numbers 15:39)

When you are at school or hanging out with your friends, do you ever find yourself having to make tough decisions? Do you ever wonder afterwards if you have made the "RIGHT" decision? Life can be difficult and the pace of it can be overwhelming. We move so swiftly through our day that sometimes we are making decisions and not realizing how we are compromising our own faith!

The Jewish people group were commanded to have these tassel's on their garments...as a reminder to keep the Lords commands. Just like the famous WWJD bracelets of a few years ago...this same thing is a reminder to us that we belong to Christ and we are continually "learning to live and love like Jesus." (sound familiar???) There is nothing wrong with having a visual a daily reminder for yourself of "who" you belong to (Christ). Where is your "tassel"?

Numbers Chapter 15 (if you have not read it yet click here)

Numbers 14: A Sad, Sad Story

Just so you know, today's post will make a lot more sense if you've read Numbers 14 already.  If you haven't, click here.  

What struck me about this chapter is just how tragic it is.  God had really amazing plans for the Israelites.  He had this great land for them, but they decided not to listen to Him, and they missed out big time.  How sad.  

It made me think about how often God has something incredible He wants for us, and we totally do our own thing.  We think we know better, so we don't do what we should be doing, or sometimes we'll do things we shouldn't.  Now God is God and all-powerful, so He can be glorified regardless of what we do (check out verse 21), but we still miss out on His best when we don't follow His will.

There have been times I've disobeyed God, and I know I've missed out on some good things as a result of that.  Thankfully, God offers us grace and mercy, but let's not use that as an excuse to sin.  God has amazing plans for us; much better than we could ever imagine.  Let's follow His lead so we can see where He takes us!

Dont forget to send in your postcards!!!

Mosaic Announcements 11/18/2008

Announcements11 18 2008

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Nexus Review: Numbers Series #2 -- Blessings

Great care must be taken when working with dangerous substances. Radioactive material for example can kill people with only small amounts of exposure. For the Israelites, God gave them very specific directions for how they could successfully handle his presence in their camp, but many of them simply did not believe him. They did not take his presence, power, and also danger seriously... and they paid for it with their lives and the lives of their family.
Thousands of years later, we often forget how incredible God is... We have the awesome privilege of living in the presence of God with his attention fully on us... This is a unique opportunity to live in peace (shalom) with ourselves, others, and God... When we forget his power and holiness in our lives, we do so at great expense to ourselves, our loved ones, and God’s name.

Numbers.2.Blessings

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Numbers Bookmark Chapters 12-17

Hey everyone! How are you doing on reading through the book of numbers? If you have missed a few days or have not joined in yet...now is the perfect time to jump right in this week! There are so many interesting things to read about this week...

-Spies sent out to scope out the land they will be entering.
-GIANTS discovered?!?
-The earth opens and swallows a tribe and all their posessions!
-A walking stick sprouts buds as if it were still attached to the tree!

Don't miss this week! Print out your COLOR bookmark now...and continue on your journey through this incredible book of NUMB3R5!

Kristina :)

Numbers 13: 10 were bad and 2 were good...

Numbers 13 is a pretty sweet chapter! I don't know if its still used, but when I was in elementary school we learned about this story through a song. I don't remember all the words, but I do remember the song talked about spies in Canaan and how "10 were bad and 2 were good."

Moses was told to pick 12 men, one from every tribe to go check out the promised land. This is that land that God had promised would be flowing with milk and honey, and what do you know, God was right! How often do we not trust what God has told us? We think, he said that this was going to happen, or be like that but we don't really believe.

The spies spent 40 days exploring all the land had to offer. They saw the different cities of those who lived there. They saw how fertile the land was and some of the first crops of grapes. The land was everything God had said it would be...but now we get to the song I learned growing up.

10 were bad, and 2 were good

When the spies came back and reported what they saw the stories they told didn't exactly match up. It was a case for CSI, or maybe more for Law & Order, but either way things didn't add up.

10 of the spies said yes, the land is fertile and flowing with milk and honey...BUT the people there are strong and well protected. Joshua and Caleb however didn't agree:

Numbers 13:30 "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

The spies said, no...not so much. We are like grasshoppers to them, it wouldn't be good. How often do we let our surroundings define who we are? How often do we not trust that God is with us and loves us? Its easy to be in the 10, but difficult to be in the 2.

Numbers 12: Humility Defined?

Numbers 12:3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

I think there is a lot of confusion about what the word humility means.

Wikipedia says that

Humility, or being humble, is ... someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others.

What is so amazing about Moses was that even though he spoke to God face to face, he still was humble... he didnt think he was better than anyone else.

Even though Moses was special, was the big shot in camp, was the leader, was in change, was God's right hand dude... he still didnt get a big head.

that is amazing because I get a big head from much smaller things...

H0w about you...?

Are you someone 'who does not think you are better or more important that others?"

or does the universe revolve around you?

Numbers 6-11 Weekly Review (By Stuart Briscoe)

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks and that may be true. But the fact that this elderly gentleman is sitting down writing a blog for the first – and only? – time in his life shows that change is possible. So here goes.

Numbers chapter 6-Speaking of change this chapter talks about changes in the rules and regulations about Nazirite vows. There was a time when you had to be “born as a Nazirite” and it became a life long commitment (see Judges 13: 2-5.) but they could become kind of rivals to the priests. So the rules were changed so that ordinary people could take the vows not for life but for “short term” under the direction of the priests but it is important to notice that short term did not mean casual or half committed. They had to be for real!

The priests, among other things, had the privilege of blessing the people – they believed that the words spoken actually carried power to change people’s lives. The blessing recorded in 6: 24- 27 is very well known and is often used in services to this day. It talks about security, prosperity (not necessarily financial) and a sense of well being. Beautiful and all the blessing comes from the LORD!

Numbers chapter 7-The early chapters of Numbers talked about the priests being involved in the life of the community. This chapter is about the community helping the priests in the worship center. They brought suitable gifts that were practical, every tribal group participated something and when you add up all the animals and the precious metals given the gifts were clearly sacrificial. David set us all a great example when he said, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (2 Sam. 24: 24.)

Numbers chapter 8-The priests wore special vestments and this “set them apart” from the people but they could abuse this position and become remote from the people. So the Levites had a different role to play in the worship of Israel - they were kind in between the people and the priests . They were not inferior they were different but we must not fail to notice that preparation for service was most important. There was no place for casual, careless worship and service – and we need to be careful in this area as well.

Numbers chapter 9-Moses was privileged to go into the worship centre and there God would speak to him. Even though we can’t hear God’s voice as he did God still speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, through other believers, in the wonders of Creation and deep in our consciences and we must remember to be open to what He is saying. He told Moses to prepare the people to celebrate the Passover – remember how God when His people were slaves in Egypt He had promised that if they sacrificed a lamb and painted the blood on their doors the angel who was going to bring judgment on their oppressors would “Pass over” the Jews – if you don’t remember check out Exodus chapter 12 . The Jews still celebrate Passover to this day so that they won’t forget what God did all those years ago. (Rather like the way we remember on Veterans Day those who died in the World Wars because we must not forget their sacrifice.) Jesus celebrated Passover the night He was betrayed (see John chapter 13) and our Communion service has close links to Passover.

As soon as the worship centre was finished, God who is invisible moved in. But if He was invisible how did they know? Good question – the “cloud” that is the brightness of His glory shone around the place (at night it glowed like fire) so at all times they knew God was with them. Some times they knew it was time to move on – how did they know? The cloud moved and they followed obediently. God works that way with us too.

Numbers chapter 10-When I was in the Royal Marines I loved it when the band played and on special occasions they sounded the silver trumpets. What an unmistakable sound they made – clear, harmonious, beautiful. Apparently God likes all kinds of music because He gave lots of instructions about it and showed that it has a special place in worship. The trumpets also challenged them to be ready for battle – after we worship we need to be ready too! Time to move on was the message on occasion and this the people of God did in an orderly manner – just as God had directed. God likes orderliness in His children too.

Stuart Briscoe (Click here for more from Stuart!)

Numbers 11: Grumblers and Complainers (by Stuart Briscoe)

You would think that the people of God even though they were in the wilderness – not a very nice place! – would have been grateful to God for saving them and guiding them but they were a bunch of grumblers!
Never satisfied, always asking God for something different. In the end God got a little ticked and said, “Alright if its meat you want you can have it.” They were delighted and figured grumbling worked, but day after day they got meat until it was coming out of their noses – Yuk! Be careful what you ask for – you might get it!! The grumbling got to Moses in the end and he’d had it with the people he was responsible for – but God had a good idea. He told Moses to pick out 70 key people to assist him and then God empowered and appointed them and it worked like a dream. Good leaders always share the responsibility and give younger people a chance to develop. The key is picking the right people and giving them just enough responsibility so they can show they are responsible. Not too much and not too little. Who’d be a leader?!!! The check is how they’re doing and sense when they are ready for more responsibility.

Stuart Briscoe (Click here for more from Stuart!)

Numbers 10: The Trumpets

Have you ever wished that God would use a trumpet to help you know when to go somewhere or when it is good to do something, like He used to instruct the Israelites to set out to their next place? Sometimes it is hard to know what God wants for us – and sometimes there is no “right” answer – just a fine and good or good and better.

When I have a big decision to make and I am not sure what God wants me to do, I pray and read God’s Word – the Bible to seek the answers. How has God helped you to make a decision? How did you know it was what God wanted?

Sno Rodeo 2008: The Furnace...

Staying cool when life heats up...

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Nexus Review: Numbers Series #1 --Details, Details

Numbers_1_Details, Details

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Numbers play a far bigger part in our life than we realize. Digital photographs, videos and games... are entirely based on numbers.. little zeros and ones that scroll through millions of lines of code to create vivid images on the screen. Any one of those little numbers, insignificant seeming as they may be, could ruin a photo, video, game, or crash a computer or network, or ever bring down a power grid knocking out power to half of our country.

Numbers, although often invisible, matter. They are details that can overwhelm us in large quantities, but God is not overwhelmed by the details at all. Imagine a BEING who knows every single number in the universe, and what they are for. He knows how many people, stars, galaxies, atoms, subatomic particles, angels, iPods, songs exists anywhere.

That is the God that I want to entrust my life to. If he can handle the details of the universe without breaking a sweat, he can handle the universe of issues and emotions that makes up my life.

Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Numbers 9: Clouds and Fires

Do you walk around with a cloud of fire above your head? This seems like something straight from the funnies in the Sunday morning paper now doesn’t it? The reality of this is that the cloud of fire described in Chapter 9 of Numbers was a visible sign that God’s presence was with the Israelites. Whether the cloud moved or stayed…their movement directly copied the movement of this cloud.

It is very safe when we see God going before us – such as with the pillar of fire. Could this be true of us today? Do you sense God is near and moving in your life? THIS IS TRUE TODAY! Although the Spirit of God may not manifest himself as a cloud of fire above our heads, the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us….and HE lives within us! The Holy Spirit guides us as we learn to live and love like Jesus!

The Israelites were on a journey…a very long journey. We are also on a journey. Can everyone see the presence of God in your life? Can anyone see the presence of God in your life?