The Past...

The past few weeks have been amazing in the life of this blogger. Things here at First Christian are really taking off, people are excited about knowing Jesus more and the Student Life Ministry is going really well. Leaders have stepped up in a big way, some kids are beginning their relationship with Jesus and others are eager to see how God will use them in college. Last week I went to CIY with some really great students and awesome adults. I think it changed all of our lives. All of us had an experience with Jesus that needed to happen so that we could move forward. Each night brought something different and it was exactly what we all needed. Let me give you just a small piece of what God did with all of us.

Night 1 Identity

We started our study at the first part of Exodus and looked at he life of Moses. This night was looking at Moses meeting God at the burning. We learned that can only be who we are if we are in the presence of God. God tells us who we are and our life should be a reflection of that.

Night 2 Freedom

This night was hard for all of us. In D-groups we had bracelets on and underneath we had to write down the the sin that was holding us back from following God. We talked about the 10 plagues and how God is in the business of setting people free. We had to worship chained to our bracelets (or sin) and listen to the sermon this way. It such a good reflection of what sin does to you but a better of picture of God setting his people free. We were asked to break free and the sound of freedom was beautiful. At our youth group every single student and adult was so honest with what was going on in their life. We heard about pornography, drugs, sex, pride, fear, fear of failure and much more. That is why I love youth ministry because students are so open with how they are.

Night 3 Crossing

We talked about the crossing that we all come to in our lives with God. Of course the sermon was on Moses and God's people crossing the red sea.

Night 4 Worship

When God bring us freedom our response should be worship and it was. We sang our hearts out, we cried and loved Jesus with everything we had. At youth group time which is my favorite part about Move I asked the students to go into their dorms and just worship. They DID!!

Night 5 LIVE

Take a guess what that was about...

We had 2 baptisms, 7 rededications, and 6 who want to go into ministry.

God still moves...

It was a great week for me and the students. I just hope we can remember what we have learned and live as free people.

Summer off...

Sorry I have not blogged in forever but I was at CIY all last week and right this minute the staff is leaving for Dallas for a conference. I can't wait to tell all of you about my week and how God has moved through our ministry but I guess I and you will have to wait until Tuesday. I feel like I have been taking summer off from blogging and for that my apologies. I will be gone in July for two weeks speaking in Ohio and Virginia. I hope everyone is well and I hope you have not taken a summer off with Jesus.

Love ya and C-ya Tuesday...

CIY

Sorry I haven't blogged Ina while but last week was really busy and this week is even more crazy. As I am typing this on my iPhone I am sitting in a dorm room and we are going through our first whole day at CIY. This week has been great so far and I am really looking forward to the rest of the week. We have been talking about Moses and I love watch the OT come to life in the hearts of the students. I need your help as readers of this blog. I usually will not ask for this but it is really imporant.

After reading this I need you to do the following.
1. Pray for our students here. This is the biggest group we have taken yet. Pray for God to move in their hearts and minds. Pray that God would do what he does best and rescue them.

2. Pray for our adults. It can be a long and tiring week for all. Ask God to give them strength for the week. Ask God to do something special in their lives as well.

3. Please pray for me. As you know I am a man with issues and I will need your prayers as well.


Thanks for asking God to move in all of our lives.
Cya when I get back.

PS. Sorry for the spelling and grammer. Doing this on a phone is hard.

Jesus can use anything!!

The Chisel Skit!!

Great Dating Service!

Each day for the rest of this week I will show a Skit Guys video. It will be a funny and thoughtful week!! Cya tomorrow...

Missions, the unloved and mercy!!

While in our Focus groups yesterday we had a senior return from his trip from Africa. I had asked him to share some of his experiences and and things that he saw. He sat there and spoke with conviction and love for the people that he met in Africa. He shared his heart and emotions of the things he saw and experienced in that broken place. He said things like...

"I met so many children who were infected with AIDS"

"I saw a mother dying of AIDS and she cried when we dropped off food"

"People after they would use the bathroom would put it in a trash bag and throw it on the streets"

"When Christians would pray it wouldn't be a thank you God for this food prayer, but a sincere prayer for providing a daily meal"

"There was a road called AIDS avenue were kids were prostituting themselves for the truckers that would stop by"

After hearing his story I think everyone in our group wanted to go to Africa. Something I love about the followers of Jesus is how we are to love the unloved. How we are to care for the kids with AIDS, the adult with cancer, the homeless and prostitutes. I love that we are called to show them the love of Jesus with who we are and what we do with them. I think so many of us think that we have to go to Africa or a mission trip for that to happen but there are so many broken right here. There are people that we pass by everyday that need us to love them just as they are. To invest in their lives and just to listen to what their stories are. One of my favorites scriptures is...

Matthew 9:13 Jesus said, "Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy not sacrifice..." I love that we are to be a people of mercy. I just hope I can continue to learn what it means to put others ahead of myself and what that looks like daily.

WWJD

I have not been a big fan of wearing crosses or bracelets that say WWJD or some type of Christian symbol.  It's not that I am against these things it is something that I haven't done nor really ever wanted to.  My wife was picking up some graduation gifts for Graduation Sunday and while at the bible book store Caroline of course was looking at all the jewelry because of her being the princess she is.  Some of the gifts did not come in and since the clerk felt so bad about this she told Caroline to pick out something.  She walked right to this girlie, bright, childish bracelet that said WWJD on it.  The clerk told her she could have it since she made mommy drive all this way and all the gifts weren't in.  I came home that night and Caroline meets me at the door with hugs and kisses as usually and then explains to me that she has a new bracelet.  She grabs my finger and continues to pull me over to the couch and says, "Here daddy here!"  That means she wants you to sit down.  I sat down on the couch and she jumps into my arms and shares with me how she got this new pretty bracelet.  I compliment the bracelet and try to move onto something else but that was not happening.  She took the bracelet off and looked at me with those big blue eyes and said, "Bracelet on daddy."  I explained to her that she took it off she can put it back on.  She then grabbed my wrist and repeated her statement.  I now understood that she wanted me to wear the bracelet.  I put it on and every day since she reminds me to wear it.  For the past month I have been wearing this bright girlie bracelet that says WWJD on it.  

Every time I look at it I think of the love my daughter has for me and how much more my Savior loves me.  I am reminded of Jesus and the gifts he has given me because of four letters. People often notice this bracelet and I have been wearing it so much that the letters are almost gone and now all you see it white beads.  I get funny looks but every time I see that I think of my relationship with God and how I am thankful that a 2 year old had to give me something to remind me daily that I am loved.  Even as I type this I see this that bracelet and how funny it looks on my arm and wonder if it is worthy it.  YES it is!!!!!  My daughter is reminding me that God loves me and that I should live for him and him alone.  I should wear his love proud in my life and actions.  Not only am I suppose to be shining my light for him but also my bracelet!!

Saved By The Bell!!

Best interview ever!!

VBS, iPhone3G S and Masturbation

Last week was such a great week and yet exhausting at the same time.  I know this sounds funny but I was really looking forward to today for many different reasons.  I always like the start of a new week and I look forward to what is going to happen.  I am sure the title of this blog through you off a little but let me explain.

First VBS was fun and exciting.  We had over 400 people here from children to servants and it was all for God's glory.  I have the best job of them all because with the help of my friends I get to lead worship every night.  We did songs like this little light of mine, making melodies and of course my favorite get down.  It is so much fun watching the children and adults do all of these silly moves for Jesus.  VBS brought some things I wasn't expecting.  I had my office destroyed.  I helped others destroy more offices.  The senior minister and I bombed some kids with water balloons.  I barley got any work done because the offices are crazy during VBS week.  I got to know many other people I rarely see a lot better.  On the last night I was wearing a coconut bra and a Hawaiian out fit to go with it.  Finally there was a little dance competition at VBS and I saw a guy do the worm which is always fun.  

Secondly I now know that the new iPhone 3G S is out and it looks really cool.  I have an iPhone and love it to death but am not will to spend more money on just a few features.  I would love to have it so if anyone out there would love to buy it for me as a gift then let me THANK YOU now.  

Finally onto the topic I am sure you are wondering about.  I had some students come to me and ask if masturbation was wrong.  I thought to myself, I have never mentioned this in a sermon, lesson or small group.  I decided to teach on this during our Focus groups and it went very well. All the students and adults really got something out of the conversation.  Some parents came to my class just because of the topic which is awesome.  I had one mom say, "You handled the subject better than anyone could have!"  That is a huge statement to make.  Now don't get me wrong there were some laughs and even jokes but we looked at what God's word says and we came up with what we believe is right.  I want to be the type of minister who doesn't shy away from any issue.  We say all the time that God has the answers but sometimes we are afraid of the questions.  I am thankful we could talk about that issue with dignity and love.    

Let's see what happens this week!!

This would not be a Care Bear...

Good advice!

Have a great weekend!!

Congratulations world you win!!

When I started this blog I told you that I would update it at least 3 to 4 times a week I thought to myself, no big deal this will be easy I have got this.  Well this week as been so crazy and to be honest I can't think of much to say.  Most people that know me would think that is impossible so this blog is all about nothing.  I am admitting to the entire world wide web that Crockett Davidson does not have much to say.  Many may be thankful for this but I wanted to take this time out and say congratulations world you win!!

PS I am sure it will change next week!!

Monday Musing...

This is the first time I have ever done a Monday Musing so lets hope we find it interesting.

I came into my office today and it seems that some fun loving church members had fun with a little prank yesterday after church.  There was tap from wall to wall and rubber bands all over the floor.  There were many notes left in my office saying things like, "Watch your back, we are going to get you, we love your wife and think your weird.  What a great way to start a Monday.  

We had a our VBS kickoff last night which brought in a ton of parents in kids.  Our Children's Director has a great VBS planned and does a great job with her ministry.  The entire gym looks like a swamp.  

Our church website was unveiled to the people yesterday and we have gotten some good responses from it.  If you haven't seen it check it out at www.fccga.org

I am letting the senior come to me privately and ask what it is they want to learn in our Focus groups.  The past couple of weeks we have talked about the second coming, what happens when you die and this week we will be talking about masturbation.  You have to love the youth ministry.  They want to know the answers to all of life's tough questions.  

At VBS I get to lead the children in worship which is something I love to do.  I get to sing and dance and praise God in front of hundreds of people.  I feel so blessed to be apart of that worship team.  

An elder read my blog about Hillsong United and then went and downloaded some of their music.  He is now rockin out with his iPhone and praising God while listening to United.  Our elders rock.  

Church was good yesterday and our senior minister preached from Exodus.  I love the OT.  I love hearing sermons out of the OT.  There is so much application when it comes to people who lived in the OT and so much we need to learn from them.  

Last week I had two conversations with two of my friends who have left youth ministry to do something else at another church.  Both friends do not have a youth minister at their church so they feel called by God to do something about it.  Both are considering going back to youth ministry because they feel it is so vital.  

CIY is coming up and I can't wait.  Not only is it good time with our youth group but CIY inspires me as well.  

Have a great week!!