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.